Cost of living
Opinion
Housing crisis
Why the cookie-cutter can’t solve Sydney’s housing crisis
Creating templated homes will degrade the suburbs further and leave councils and communities furious.
- by Tone Wheeler
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Inflation
Ordinary workers ‘can’t keep up’ with mortgages, rent and bills – even with multiple jobs
Working Australians, some with multiple jobs, are inundating financial counselling services at COVID-era levels as interest rates and inflation make life unaffordable.
- by Shane Wright
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
‘Ridiculous’: The Sydney suburbs where rents soared most
Several once-affordable suburbs recorded rent hikes of 25 per cent or more over the past year. Is there an end in sight?
- by Tawar Razaghi
The regional Victorian towns drawing priced-out Melburnians
Three councils on Melbourne’s fringe have had similar or stronger rental price growth over the past 12 months, a sign of a spillover effect.
- by Jim Malo
Surprising NSW regional towns where rents rose most
The median weekly house rent in NSW regional and coastal areas is the highest yet, only $175 a week less than Sydney.
- by Sue Williams
Tenants feel ‘rental anxiety’ as Melbourne rents hit record high
The typical house costs $60 per week more to rent than it did a year ago, leaving some tenants fearful of lifelong housing insecurity.
- by Jim Malo
‘Affordability ceiling has been smashed’: Sydney rents hit record highs
Intense competition to find more affordable homes in Sydney has driven unit rents up $50 per week since last year. Can it continue?
- by Tawar Razaghi and Elizabeth Redman
Updated
NATO
Dutton tells MPs to ‘be ready’ for early election after PM scraps Washington visit
Anthony Albanese was expected to attend next week’s summit marking NATO’s 75th anniversary but Defence Minister Richard Marles will now travel to the US in his place.
- by Rob Harris, Angus Thompson and James Massola
Opinion
Interest rates
Two reasons why the RBA will have to hike rates again, and soon
When the RBA board next meets, I believe there’s a better-than-even chance it will raise rates for the first time in nine months to 4.6 per cent.
- by Steven Hamilton
Weighing up Melbourne’s markets: Cheapest, freshest, best vibes
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, Melbourne’s market traders say they are seeing an increase in new customers joining the regulars.
- by Cara Waters