The Australian Financial Review recently reported that the cost of the NDIS continues to escalate. According to the latest data, the cost growth in NDIS plans was 9.5% year-on-year in the September quarter, with expense growth up by 10.1%. Examining these numbers clearly warranted a closer look at the system’s participant growth. Since the end
The Australian Youth Barometer 2025, produced by Monash University’s Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice (CYPEP), is the fifth annual study of young Australians aged 18–24. It combines surveys (527 participants), interviews, and existing national data to explore youth experiences across economy, work, education, health, relationships, and civic participation This year’s survey paints a
Many will argue that there is no AI bubble. The poster child of the bubble, NVDA, is not running away from profits on valuation. However, bubbles always have a kernel of truth, and that truth distorts underlying economic behaviour. In 1999, it was Cisco profits on routers. Note what happened to profits when the bubble
The ferrous complex remains paralysed with iron ore caught in an obvious trading range between $100 and $107. CISA data for mid-November was still bearish, rising slightly but below last year’s levels. Inventory rose commensurately. Yet, hot metal output remains strong. According to an SMM survey, on November 26, the blast furnace operating rate at
Getting an early assessment of a new treasurer can be quite unfortunate. Especially for the treasurer. In June 2022, MB warned the newly elected Albanese government that a fateful energy shock was underway, one that would destroy its domestic agenda, while the government took a victory lap around the country. We went so far as
Roy Morgan reported that mortgage stress hit its lowest level since February 2023, following the three 0.25% rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). In the three months to October 2025, 25.3% of mortgage holders were deemed by Roy Morgan to be ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage stress’, down 2.6% points from August 2025
Again the lack of bad news and the Thanksgiving cheer gave Wall Street another boost which should translate into steady returns on Asian equity markets in today’s session. The near certainty of a rate cut by the Fed in tis December meeting is the juice that is powering risk makets at the moment with the
DXY is falling again. AUD launched. CNY is supportive. Japan is better but no cigar. Gold is good. AI metals, or should we call them Fed metals, jumped. The chosen one is back. EM lagging. Junk is green. Yields are green. Stocks are green. With the FOMC and RBA charging in apparently different directions, if
This week, Cotality released its housing affordability report for the September quarter of 2025, which reported abysmal affordability across the nation for both purchases and rent. In response, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver produced a report explaining how Australia’s mass immigration policy has eroded housing affordability by creating a structural imbalance between supply and demand.
A cracking CPI print has sent the Australian dollar soaring against USD while Asian equity markets have lifted strongly across the region. With the shortened trading week due to US Thanksgiving other risk markets are effectively in a holding pattern although oil prices continue to drip lower. Currency land continues to digest the growing possibility