Economic News

Negative equity is one of those terms that tends to surface whenever housing prices fall. It describes a borrower whose outstanding loan is larger than the value of the property securing it. With housing prices now declining in most capital cities, the Reserve Bank's …

Mortgage arrears are one of the bluntest measures of household strain. A loan 90 days or more behind signals a borrower who has fallen well behind, not one juggling a tight month.

Auction results are among the most closely watched numbers in Australian housing, offering a quick read on how eager buyers are.

Central bankers choose their words with care, and the qualifiers often matter as much as the claims. On 13 August, in his remarks in Sydney, Assistant Governor (Financial Markets) Christopher Kent offered an observation that went beyond interest rates.

Monetary policy statements are written for precision, not for the kitchen table. So when the Monetary Policy Board explained its decision on 29 September to lift the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.60 per cent, the key justification came in central …

Tuesday 3 November, 2.30 pm. That is when the Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Board will next announce its decision on the cash rate target, now 4.60 per cent after a 25 basis point rise on 29 September.

The Monetary Policy Board has raised the cash rate target four times in 2026, each by 25 basis points: on 3 February, 17 March, 5 May and 29 September. Together those moves took the cash rate from 3.60 per cent to 4.60 per cent, …