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Showing 61 - 70 of 632 results for "Consumer confidence"

Chief economist update: A busy 2020 for Abe, BOJ

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 14 JAN 2020
... suffering from acute weakness in manufacturing and exports, particularly those to China, alongside declining consumer confidence." "In response, the government is providing significant support. Despite recent weakness in activity, the unemployment rate ...

Chief economist update: Aussie Black Friday spend will end Saturday

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 13 JAN 2020
... in wages slowed to 2.2% in the September 2019 quarter from 2.3% in the previous one. Given still depressed consumer confidence, Australians are more likely to exploit the RBA's lower interest rates, the Morrison government's increased spending ...

Chief economist update: Rate cuts coming, but not on race day

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 21 OCT 2019
... (year-on-year) to a reading of 131.8 in October - don't portend good tidings and explain the persistent weakness in consumer confidence and retail spending.

Chief economist update: Japan tightens fiscal policy

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 11 OCT 2019
... ahead of the consumption tax hike, or a bit of both. However, forward indications are not so good. Japanese consumer confidence dropped to an eight-year low of 35.6 in September, marking the 22nd straight month of decline since peaking at 44.6 in November ...

Chief economist update: This is a job for the RBA (and the Treasury)

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 20 SEP 2019
... (year-on-year) to a reading of 133.6 in September - portend not good tidings and explain the recent weakness in consumer confidence and retail spending. Given the labour market slack - the RBA thinks the unemployment rate could drop to around 4.5% without ...

Chief economist update: 'Paradox of Thrift' in action

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 12 SEP 2019
... frog. Contrast this with the "frog dropped in boiling water" during the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009 - when consumer confidence dropped sharply in the same 14-month period (from a high of 123.9 in May 2007 to 79.0 by July 2008) - the frog was dropped ...

Chief economist update: The UK is not OK

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 12 AUG 2019
... liquidity and the cost of borrowing that's the UK's problem. The problem is the dent on business and consumer confidence caused by uncertainties from Brexit and US-China trade tensions.

Chief economist update: Australian bull market here we come

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 13 JUN 2019
... 2018 quarter. The slowdown in annual retail sales growth to 2.8% in April from 3.5%, along with the drop in consumer confidence portends continuing weakness in household spending. This isn't a good omen for business profitability - that, which drives ...

Chief economist update: Glass half-full or US recession on the way?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 29 MAY 2019
... at 3.6% in April - this is the lowest rate of joblessness in nearly five decades (December 1969) - stoking consumer confidence. The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index rose to a 15-year high in May which, in turn, encourages greater ...

Chief economist update: Low unemployment, low wages growth conundrum

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 16 MAY 2019
... surveys of the Australian labour market point to a weakening trend. Although the Westpac/Melbourne Institute consumer confidence survey showed improved consumer unemployment expectations in May, the employment index in the NAB business survey dropped ...