Australian economy Stories

Australian Stories

Australian economy stories

Australia's next infrastructure market may be underwater

Australia's ocean industries already generate $229 billion and 712,000 jobs, but funding for cleaner seas still relies on short-term grants.

By Montgomery Simus • 5 min read • This month

Seek

Australia jobless rate rises as economist questions data

The latest jobs report may exaggerate weakness, with CreditorWatch's chief economist blaming volatile state and part-time figures for the national drop.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • This month

Manufacturing

Australian manufacturers slash stock as cash pressure mounts

Lower sales and tighter balance sheets are forcing manufacturers to unlock cash, with average stock on hand down 60% to AUD $185,134 in the second quarter.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • This month

Real estate

Auction clearance rate hits 19-week high across capitals

More homes changed hands as vendors met the market, with clearance rates lifting to a 19-week high even as values stayed below a year ago.

By Raphael Veloso • 4 min read • This month

Payment Technologies

Australia coffee sales fall as prices climb higher

Rising café prices are denting demand, with Australians buying 5.9% fewer coffees in 2025 even as the average cup cost climbed to AUD $5.83.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • This month

Artificial Intelligence

Australia inflation cools but RBA likely to tighten again

A softer August reading may not spare borrowers, with CreditorWatch warning that broad-based price pressures still point to another RBA hike.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Disaster Recovery

Payment failures put AUD $3.1 billion retail sales at risk

Shoppers walk away within minutes when card systems fail, with outages now threatening AUD $3.1 billion in annual retail and hospitality sales.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Real estate

RBA rate rise deepens Australia's housing market slowdown

Borrowing power has fallen by nearly AUD $90,000 for a median-income household, leaving sales and prices under renewed pressure.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Last month

Artificial Intelligence

Australian household spending flat as fuel costs rise

Fuel and other essentials kept Australian consumers under pressure in August, with flat spending and weaker non-fuel outlays pointing to caution.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Last month

Real estate

Auction clearance rates fall to ten-week low across capitals

Buyer caution is weighing on capital-city property sales, with the combined preliminary auction clearance rate slipping to a ten-week low of 50.3%.

By Raphael Veloso • 3 min read • Last month

Real estate

Australia housing downturn trims resale profits in June

Australia's housing slump has begun to erode resale gains, with the share of profitable sales slipping from a 21-year high in June.

By Raphael Veloso • 5 min read • Last month

Digital Transformation

AlixPartners appoints David Ellis as Partner in Australia

The consultancy's Sydney expansion gains momentum as it targets restructuring and transformation work amid tighter capital conditions.

By Raphael Veloso • 3 min read • Last month

Software-as-a-Service

Fragmented workplace chats cost Australia AUD $4.46 billion

Australian workers are losing more than 75 million hours a year to scattered messages, eroding productivity and adding to business costs.

By Mara Sugue • 5 min read • Last month

Real estate

Australia auction clearance rate falls below 50% again

Higher interest rates and price mismatches are leaving more homes unsold, as Australia's capital-city clearance rate slips to 49.1%.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month

Inflation

RBA still tipped to raise rates as jobs data blurs

Australia's labour market sent mixed signals in August, but inflation worries still leave the Reserve Bank likely to lift interest rates next week.

By Mara Sugue • 5 min read • Last month

Real estate

RBA set for September rate rise, CreditorWatch says

Australian households and debt-laden firms face further borrowing-cost pressure, with CreditorWatch seeing no chance of the RBA standing pat in September.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month

Risk & Compliance

Australian businesses upbeat despite cash flow strain

Many Australian firms are still using owners' personal money to prop up working capital, as cash reserves and trading confidence weaken.

By Mara Sugue • 5 min read • Last month

Digital Transformation

Peak has moved: Five ways Australian retailers can build a more agile supply chain

Australian retailers face higher costs and tighter margins as Black Friday demand spreads peak season earlier and makes supply chains harder to balance.

By Steve Blough • 8 min read • Last month