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Economics

Chief economist update: Younger migrants and the elderly keep wages low

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 9 AUG 2018
The increase in Australia's population growth over the past decade is largely due to increased immigration; the rate of natural increase has not changed that much

Chief economist update: Do nothing RBA

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 7 AUG 2018
If all goes according to expectations, today's Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board meeting will mark 25 months that the country's cash rate has been stuck at a record low 1.5%, and the longest stretch of unchanged interest rates.

Chief economist update: Not before we get a pay rise

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 6 AUG 2018
Wages are key. The RBA won't be able to lift interest rates until growth in wages picks up lest it exacerbates the financial stress on households.

Chief economist update: Heaven can wait but the BOE couldn't

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 3 AUG 2018
The Bank of England finally went ahead and did it. It lifted the Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 0.75% at the conclusion of its August Monetary Policy Council meeting.

Chief economist update: The grass is paler on the China side

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 2 AUG 2018
The latest China manufacturing PMI surveys - which track the sector most affected by the trade stoush - are already showing signs of buckling.

Chief economist update: The BOJ kills off specs (for now)

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 1 AUG 2018
The BOJ has added another tool to try and coax inflation back to life.

Chief economist update: At the core-core of it

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 31 JUL 2018
Speculations which sent the yield on Japanese Government Bonds soaring and saw the Japanese yen strengthen. They are certain to negate the central bank's efforts to lift the country's inflation rate to at least close to its 2% target.

Chief economist update: Boom in the USA

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 30 JUL 2018
Although it's not expected to move on interest rates at its July 31 meeting, the latest growth figures give the US Federal Reserve the green light if it decides to do so to prevent the risk of the economy from overheating.

Chief economist update: ECB on track for exit

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 27 JUL 2018
The Governing Council expects the key ECB interest rates to remain at their present levels at least through the summer of 2019.

Chief economist update: Inflation genie still inside the box

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 26 JUL 2018
The stats are out and they reveal Australia's inflation genie is still inside the box. Inflation will find it hard to pick up until wages growth increases.