Australian economy
Opinion
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How can Australians be so wealthy yet still be poor?
The average Australian’s wealth grew by about 10 per cent last year but the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” is growing.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Latest
Gen X, Millennial Australians better off than their parents – but not all
Australians are largely growing up to be better off than their parents, but there are risks younger generations may not gain much ground.
- by Rachel Clun
Australian real wage growth among worst in OECD
As the government campaigns on the cost of living, the OECD reports Australia’s wage growth lags the UK, Canada and the United States.
- by Rachel Clun
Rents, weather events and premiums mean fight against inflation not yet won
Australia’s inflation rate has been falling for over 18 months, but rent and insurance inflation are among the household essentials bucking that trend.
- by Rachel Clun
$1.1 billion black hole: Unis brace for loss of tens of thousands of students
New economic modelling suggests universities are facing a funding shortfall of more than $1 billion under the federal government’s crackdown.
- by Daniella White
Analysis
Interest rates
The only certainty for your mortgage rate – Reserve Bank uncertainty
The Reserve Bank is supposed to have a handle on how the economy will perform over the next two years. Its minutes show it doesn’t.
- by Shane Wright
Opinion
Opinion
Why we’re going into the new financial year carrying last year’s problems
It is difficult to see anything much that will stimulate corporate profits in the remainder of this calendar year.
- by Elizabeth Knight
How four Australians are going to spend their tax cuts
People on different tax brackets tell us how they will spend their stage 3 cuts.
- by Olivia Ireland, Lachlan Abbott and Jessica McSweeney
Exclusive
Tax cuts
Value of stage 3 tax cuts will be gone soon after next election
Australians will start to see their pay packets improve from Monday as the stage 3 cuts begin, but more tax cuts are needed to stop tax rates climbing higher.
- by Shane Wright
Analysis
Income tax
Sugar hit from stage 3, but the country needs a tax reform diet
From July, $23 billion will flow to hard-pressed Australians as the stage 3 tax cuts begin. But they’re a long way from solving the nation’s biggest tax issues.
- by Shane Wright
Third-largest budget surplus soon to turn into a sea of red ink
Lower spending has helped the budget show the third-largest surplus on record. But it is likely the nation’s finances will shift from the black into the red.
- by Shane Wright