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Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis

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Westpac pours cold water on IMF’s ‘unhelpful’ recession talk

A big four bank economist has hit out at “unhelpful” recession talk sparked by the International Monetary Fund’s worst-case forecast for the Middle East conflict.

Matt Mckenzie

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NEWSPremium‘Pressure’: Fresh blow for Aussie renters

Australia’s rental crisis has slammed back into overdrive, with new figures revealing tenants are being squeezed harder than ever.

Andrew Hedgman

Mortgage holders could face higher interest rates and fuel costs at the same time. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

MONEYPremiumIMF warns of double blow for Aussie budgets

The world’s leading monetary fund has warned Aussie mortgage holders will face a double blow to their budgets.

Cameron Micallef, Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the global economy faces ‘a dangerous moment’. NewsWire / John Gass

POLITICSPremiumGlobal economy at ‘dangerous moment’: Chalmers

Anthony Albanese’s numbers chief has warned economic fallout from the Iran war could “become severe”.

Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer

The RBA says the Iran war risks fuelling a dangerous combination of high inflation and rising unemployment.

RBACommentsPremiumRBA warns Iran war could trigger 1980s-style stagflation

The Reserve Bank has warned the Iran war could push Australia toward a damaging mix of rising prices and weaker growth, echoing the economic turmoil of the 1980s.

Stephen Johnson

Kevin and Claire Kavanagh with children Kian and Everly in Bali. Claire owns Bali Kidz Hire and the family are regular travellers to the island from Perth.

economyVideoCommentsPremiumWhy Aussies are getting more bang for buck in Bali

It’s our favourite holiday destination, and now Australians in Bali are getting far more bang for their buck as the dollar soars to its highest point against Indonesia’s currency in decades.

Rhianna Mitchell

Premier Roger Cook has declared Kwinana the ‘centre of the universe’ as he triggers powerful new laws to fast-track a massive wave of renewable energy projects and overhaul the State’s industrial heartland.

State PoliticsCommentsCook’s bold plan to fast-track WA’s industrial future

Premier Roger Cook has declared Kwinana the ‘centre of the universe’ as he triggers powerful new laws to fast-track a massive wave of renewable energy projects and overhaul the State’s industrial heartland.

Caitlin Vinci

War will test the resilience of the UK economy, with the country highly dependent on imported gas. (EPA PHOTO)

EconomyPremiumEnergy test for UK after economy surged before Iran war

Britain's economy performed better than expected in February, but it remains vulnerable to the fallout from the Middle East conflict's impact on fuel prices.

Andy Bruce

Australians will likely be poorer due to the war in the Middle East. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

news‘Be poorer’: RBA boss’ frightening warning

A top RBA official has warned Australians face a grim economic future of rising costs and falling living standards as the war in Iran rages on.

Cameron Micallef

Iron ore generates about a quarter of WA’s income.

EconomyCommentsPremiumWhy WA would be most at risk if Iran war rages on

WA’s economy was among the strongest in the world through the GFC and pandemic but new analysis warns a prolonged Middle East war could bring that lucky run to an end.

Matt Mckenzie

Australia’s unemployment rate came in at 4.3 per cent. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

UPDATEDPremiumRate hike warning after new job figures

Thousands of Australians entered the workforce at the start of the year, but experts warn it could be the calm before the storm and rates may rise again.

Cameron Micallef

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the low jobless figure was a good sign, without mentioning already-high inflation.

EconomyCommentsPremiumSteady jobless rate in March now makes rate hike more likely

Australia’s unemployment rate remained steady at 4.3 per cent in March - the first full month of the Iran war - making an interest rate rise next month more likely.

Stephen Johnson

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has signed an extraordinary joint statement with US allies. NewsWire / John Gass

NewsPremiumGovernment’s Iran response must be ‘fiscally responsible’: statement

Australia’s Treasurer has signed an extraordinary joint statement with US allies warning governments to be “responsible” as fallout from the Iran war grows.

Nathan Schmidt

RBA governor Michele Bullock says Australia’s employment rate is marginally tight. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

national‘Hard data’ on war’s economic impact looms

Australia’s unemployment rate is tipped to fall in March, but experts warn it could be the calm before the storm.

Cameron Micallef

March jobs figures are set to be released but it's unclear what impact the fuel crisis will have. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

EconomyCommentsPremiumJobs data to reveal first signs of Iran war impact

Unemployment data for March will be the first glimpse of how the Middle East conflict is affecting the economy more broadly.

Andrew Brown

Australia’s company directors were already concerned about the economic outlook even before the Iran war erupted.

BoardsCommentsPremiumMiddle East conflict set to exacerbate local boardroom woes

The Iran war is set to exacerbate boardroom woes as Australia’s company directors become increasingly concerned about productivity, rising business costs and higher-for-longer interest rates and inflation.

Cheyanne Enciso

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Bruneian Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah have signed a joint statement on energy and food security. NewsWire / Bianca De Marchi/ Pool

POLITICSPremiumLabor’s fix amid food fears

Labor is making it easier to bring in foreign fertiliser amid fears growers will not have enough for April seeding.

Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar.

Workplace MattersCommentsPremium‘Economically reckless’: Employers blast union pay push

Employers have blasted a union campaign for a minimum wage increase by more than 5 per cent, calling it “economically reckless” and warning it would fuel inflation and pressure already stretched employers.

Ryan Johnson

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BUSINESSPremiumFinance giant hit with $4m spam fine

An Aussie finance giant has copped a massive fine after breaching spam regulations millions of times – despite being fined for similar conduct years before.

David Hannant

The Trade Resilience Service aims to give exporters real-time logistics advice as they search for routes through the Middle East or alternative markets. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

POLITICSPremiumHelp for Aussie businesses blindsided by Iran

The Albanese government has launched a specialist team to help Australian exporters navigate the Middle East shipping chaos.

Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer

The energy crisis has sparked fears of a global recession. NewsWire/ David Crosling

ECONOMYChalmers’ ‘big test’ in tough global economy

A senior Nationals senator has delivered a grim warning for Australia’s economy as recession fears grow and the war in the Middle East rages on.

Ria Pandey and Cameron Micallef

Anthony Albanese landed in oil-rich Brunei Darussalam on Tuesday to shore up energy trade. Bianca De Marchi / Pool / NewsWire

MARKET WRAPPremiumASX to gain on oil price drop

The prospect of the US and Iran meeting for more peace talks has taken some sting out of oil prices, pushing ASX futures toward gains.

Blair Jackson

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EXCLUSIVEPremiumAlbo’s fuel plea to ageing autocrat

A key part of Anthony Albanese’s fuel crisis plan hinges on an ageing autocrat who believes anal sex and adultery should be punishable by lapidation – death by stoning.

Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer, Nathan Schmidt

RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser says he is not confident interest rates are high enough. . NewsWire / Martin Ollman

BUDGETPremium‘Very costly’: Grim warning for Albo’s budget

A major economic fund has issued a warning for governments to resist cost of living handouts, as the Albanese government prepares for its May budget.

Cameron Micallef