The Conversation
There’s been quite a bit of speculation over whether Australia has a property market bubble - where house prices are over-inflated compared to a benchmark - and when it might burst. According to housing…
Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison says the budget papers will make a formal distinction between ‘good debt’ and ‘bad debt’.
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In the lead-up to the federal budget, the government has made a number of significant and sometimes surprising policy announcements.
Australia’s central bank says labour market conditions have been weaker than expected.
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Wages are sluggish, underemployment seems stubbornly high, and there is a continued push to part-time rather than full-time employment.
APRA chairman Wayne Byres is leading a crackdown on interest-only loans, but it may not be enough to cool some parts of the housing market.
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Negative gearing plus inadequate supply plus low wage growth equals financial distress.
Rapid rise of Australian house prices have created disagreement between economists on whether a housing bubble currently exists.
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Economists struggle to agree on when and where housing bubbles occur, but bubbles all have similar characterisitics.
Declining interest rates have been working for home buyers, now they are working against them.
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Declining interest rates has made housing more affordable over the past thirty years, but it has also increased the risk for homebuyers.
The foundations of Australian house prices could shift at any time.
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Australia’s central bank is still trying to walk a delicate tightrope.
if you like to drink (or sell) German beer, higher rates are a wonderful thing.
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While borrowers may not be thrilled by the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise rates, many of us have plenty of reason to celebrate.
The shift to part-time employment in the labour force has been going on for a long time now.
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Uncertainty about energy prices and political dithering on company tax rates point to businesses waiting before investing heavily.
The Reserve Bank, under Governor Philip Lowe, this week kept the cash rate at 1.5%.
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It is a puzzle as to why businesses are reasonably confident but not willing to invest.
Consumers are faced with more economic uncertainty than the bottoming out of interest rates would otherwise suggest.
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If the stars align, consumers will benefit from increased economic activity in the short term. And if they don’t, then the economic recovery will have consumers saving more in uncertain times.
With investor lending taking off again, the regulator could impose tighter constraints on bank lending.
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Investor loans are on the increase again, causing pause for the regulators.
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Home owners and first time buyers are right to be confused, so how should you play expected changes to a low rates environment?
We could soon head into another volatile period.
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Brexit and Trump pave the way for more financial market uncertainty.
US Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s term expires in early 2018. Who will replace her?
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My Christmas fiscal wish is that in 2017 both sides of politics treat the Australian public like adults.
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison will deliver the Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook next week.
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The US Fed meets expectations for a rate cut, Australia’s unemployment rate heads upwards again, and all eyes look to the mid year budget update.
Up from here?
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Many observers argue the Fed’s wrong to raise rates so soon. Here’s why they’re wrong.
Australian business confidence is falling, amid concerning signs from other economic indicators.
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Australia’s economic indicators are showing worrying signs, with business confidence falling in the face of continued low interest rates.
The Fed’s low-interest rate garden.
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Ultra-low interest rates have made low-carbon projects like windmill farms more attractive than coal power plants. That will begin to change as the central bank lifts rates, hurting the green economy.
Not enough cranes?
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Construction slumps to its lowest level since 2010, and the US Fed remains divided on its next interest rate hike.