Real Disposable Income Has Stalled Since 2009 [Podcast]

We look at today’s release of the 17th wave of Australia’s Household, Income and Labour Dynamics Survey (HILDA) tells us that despite the official statistics, people were right to feel they were going backwards. https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/hilda

Real Disposable Income Stalled Since 2009 – HILDA

During the election campaign then-opposition leader Bill Shorten repeatedly claimed that everything was going up. Via The Conversation. “Childcare is up 28%, out of pockets to see the doctor up 20%, specialists … up nearly 40%,” he said. And then the punchline: “everything is going up, except your wages.” Statistically, it wasn’t true. The official … Continue reading “Real Disposable Income Stalled Since 2009 – HILDA”

Markets Rethink Rate Cuts As Central Bank Hawks Jawbone!

It’s become a bit of a ritual, as members of various committees linked to Central Bank interest rate decisions speak in the open spaces between policy meetings. This week, Washington has been the centre of gravity thanks to the IMF conferences. Markets are hypersensitive at the moment, having been baying for rate cuts all year, … Continue reading “Markets Rethink Rate Cuts As Central Bank Hawks Jawbone!”

Household Financial Pressures And RBA Propaganda…

Next Tuesday I will be running my live show on Household Financial Stress, which continues to worsen. However, what constitutes “stress” is being debated widely – its a matter of definition. The RBA has joined the debate, but I will argue in today’s show they conveniently presented a lop-sided story, which understates the true picture. … Continue reading “Household Financial Pressures And RBA Propaganda…”

Households In The Cross-Hairs As Real Wealth Falls…

The latest from the RBA – Statement On Monetary Policy November 2023, outlines the bank’s latest thinking. The Reserve Bank updated its economic forecasts, which explain why it raised interest rates this month – from 4.1 per cent to 4.35 per cent after four consecutive pauses. And importantly, it shows just how the economic engine … Continue reading “Households In The Cross-Hairs As Real Wealth Falls…”

Recession, Here We Come!

The Bank of England is the latest central bank to raise interest rates by at least 50 basis points in one go this year as it unleashed its biggest interest-rate hike in 27 years and warned the UK is heading for more than a year of recession under the weight of soaring inflation. The half-point … Continue reading “Recession, Here We Come!”