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Economics

Chief economist update: Talking trade tariffs

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 4 MAY 2018
Given current trade flows, the US has a better bargaining position because it buys more from China.

Chief economist update: Fed's on target, BOJ takes out target

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 3 MAY 2018
None other than Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda explained the reason for eliminating the central bank's inflation target date.

Chief economist update: A$ falls to the occasion

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 2 MAY 2018
The Australian dollar's depreciation is broad-based so don't you ever tell me that it's a US-dollar story. It's also not a commodity price story.

Moving on up to target

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 1 MAY 2018
It's getting closer and closer - the inflation measure that the US Federal Reserve tracks in assessing monetary policy direction is just a pip short of its 2% target.

Chief economist update: Not as good as it gets

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 30 APR 2018
This is good but some analysts are saying, this is as good as it gets, pointing to the deceleration in US GDP growth in the first quarter of this year.

Chief economist update: Prudence, patience and persistence

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 27 APR 2018
Whether it's the reduction in asset purchases or the euro's appreciation or exit speculations, recent data indicates the single currency area's growth momentum is slowing down.

Chief economist update: Inflation remains in the slow lane

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 26 APR 2018
The financial markets' response to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Consumer Price Index report was a big "HO-HUM."

Chief economist update: View from the National Farmers' Federation

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 24 APR 2018
Yesterday chief economist Benjamin Ong argued that, given agriculture 'only' contributes 3% to Australia's GDP and 2.2% of employment, the Prime Minister should not put agriculture at the heart of the Australia-EU FTA negotiations. The National Farmers' ...

Chief economist update: Malcolm puts agricuture in the middle

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 23 APR 2018
Agriculture accounts for about 12% of Australia's total exports, which is nothing to sneeze at. Agricultural exports to the EU amounted to a $3.8 billion as at FY17, or just 1% of our total exports.

Chief economist update: Australian workers, don't expect a pay rise

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 20 APR 2018
The weakening trend in Australian employment growth indicates more Australians are waiting to replace you and I should we ever imagine handing in our resignation letters.