Cost of living
Exclusive
General insurance
‘Perfect storm’: Soaring insurance premiums, claim delays under microscope
Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones is worried the increase in premiums, combined with a rise in complaints, will result in people opting out of insurance.
- by Rachel Clun
Latest
Analysis
Home loans
New schemes helping first home buyers despite soaring prices
Determined home buyers can still find their way into the market with careful planning and the help of some new government schemes.
- by Hannah Farrow
Updated
Interest rates
Respite for mortgage holders as RBA holds rates steady for second month
Home buyers, renters and businesses could be spared any further financial pain after the RBA again left the cash rate at 4.1 per cent while signalling the economy is on track for a soft landing.
- by Shane Wright and Rachel Clun
Recession risk as RBA weighs inflation-busting interest rate rise
The Reserve Bank, ahead of its meeting on Tuesday, is being warned another interest rate rise on cash-strapped consumers could easily cause a recession.
- by Shane Wright
Discount retailers, holiday travel operators cash in as cost of living bites
A slew of data in July made it clear what the retail sector is facing – and yet, there could be some winners.
- by Emma Koehn
‘I can’t be more serious’: Albanese, Greens face off over threat of early election
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reserved the right to call an election any time from early next year if the Greens block Labor’s $10 billion housing bill a second time.
- by Angus Thompson
Shopping pullback another sign RBA likely to hold rates steady
The drop in monthly retail turnover follows better than expected inflation data, giving the RBA more reason to pause rate rises next week, economists say.
- by Rachel Clun
Exclusive
Industrial relations
‘Thrown under the bus’: NSW health workers divided over wages deal
Physiotherapists, pharmacists and dietitians are furious at Health Services Union boss Gerard Hayes, accusing him of chasing headlines rather than pay rises.Â
- by Alexandra Smith
The Brunch Index: See how inflation is impacting the cost of your meal
To look at how inflation changes, here’s how the prices for the ingredients that make up a classic Aussie brunch have changed.
- by Rachel Clun
Series
Renting
If you think renting in Australia is a mess, you’re not the only one
The cost of rent is at an all-time high while vacancies are at an all-time low. Let us help you make sense of it all.
Record $20b surplus on the cards, but no more cost-of-living relief for now
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has left the door open for more cost-of-living relief in the next budget but ruled out any additional top-ups or tax breaks in this financial year.
- by Rachel Clun