The housing affordability situation in New Zealand is rapidly improving, unlike Australia. Turning to the rental market first, TradeMe reported a 3.1% annual decline in New Zealand asking rents in May, with all major markets experiencing declines. Stats NZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) also reported a sharp decline in national
Below is a fascinating note from Goldman on US tariffs. The domestic corporate goods price index (CGPI) fell -0.2% mom in May, the first decline since August last year, due to lower gasoline prices. In yoy terms, the index decelerated sharply to +3.2% (April: +4.1%). Domestic prices for machinery-related categories showed a mixed picture of
With a Labour government running an immigration-led labour market expansion economic model that intrinsically lowers living standards, the last thing beleaguered Australian households needed was the RBA to join the economic stomping. But that’s exactly what they’ve had, as a politicised RBA refused to canvass what the model means for inflation. Most pointedly, there won’t
News.com.au reports that Victoria has relaxed its gas phase-out plan, allowing owner-occupiers to continue using gas heaters and reaffirming that businesses can keep gas running in existing commercial buildings: The state will still push ahead with reforms that will make all new homes and most new commercial buildings electric only from 2027. Premier Jacinta Allan
Amidst the ongoing debate surrounding the right level of migration for Australia, I thought it would be interesting to look into how population growth is playing out at a state based level. The piece will also look at which state has been doing the heavy lifting relative in terms of its population growth relative to