A drawn-out war in the Middle East could add an extra 5% to existing inflation in Australia, our new modelling shows. We looked at the likely impacts of two different scenarios: a moderate disruption with the war ending in mid-April, and a drawn-out war ending by September. We found higher fuel costs would affect freight,…
Australian housing resale profits strengthened in the December quarter, with the share of properties selling at a gain rising to its highest level in more than two decades. Of the 102,000 resales analysed in Cotality’s Pain & Gain report, 95.9% recorded a profit, up slightly from 95.6% in the previous quarter and the strongest result…
Australia’s housing loan market is facing potential headwinds, particularly in the investor segment, amid speculation around changes to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount for investors and a cap on negative gearing. Despite that, according to Money.com.au’s latest State-by-State Mortgage Insights Report, home lending growth is forecast to hit 7% in 2026 (to 594,279 loans),…
For many Australians, Saturday mornings during the property selling season follow a familiar pattern. Buyers move from open home to open home, then gather outside properties, waiting for the auction to begin: hopeful, nervous, and often optimistic. But for too many potential buyers, those Saturdays end in frustration. Not simply because they lost the auction, but…
If a picture paints a thousand words, then this collection of charts should do a pretty good job of painting the landscape as it affects our economy and our property markets. Each month the RBA summarises macroeconomic and financial market trends in Australia by providing a detailed chart pack. World Economy Australia’s economy doesn’t operate in…
Australia’s inflation rate could peak in “the high 4s or even higher” this year, according to Treasury modelling, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says. The latest modelling comes as Anthony Albanese prepares to meet state and territory leaders in a national cabinet hook up on Thursday to discuss the fuel crisis and announce a national coordinator-general to…
As widely expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) hiked rates for the second straight meeting, lifting the cash rate to 4.1% (from 3.85% previously). The consensus across banking sector economists and financial markets is another hike in May, which would fully reverse the 2025 interest rate cuts. This second hike for the year represents a…
Every year the property market follows a familiar rhythm. January is sleepy. Buyers are still on holiday, sellers are hesitant, and the market feels like it’s barely moving. Then February arrives… and the real year begins. This year has been no exception. As soon as the market woke up, activity lifted sharply – more properties hit…
Capital city rental markets have continued to tighten over February with most cities reporting lower vacancy rates for both houses and units. Most capitals reported higher or steady house rents over the month with Hobart the top performer up by 1.7% followed by Perth higher by 1.4%, Darwin up 0.2% with Melbourne and Adelaide steady….
Something interesting has just happened in the interest rate debate. For months Australians were told the worst of the interest rate cycle was behind us. Inflation was easing, the economy was slowing, and many commentators were confidently predicting rate cuts sometime in the near future. But suddenly the narrative has flipped. Two of Australia’s largest banks…
