Newspaper icon
The latest issue of Financial Standard now available as an e-newspaper
READ NOW

Economics

Inflation eases, experts split on next RBA move

VINNY VUCAGO  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 MAY 2026
Australia's annual inflation rate eased slightly to 4.2% in the 12 months to April 2026, down from 4.6% annual inflation to March, though persistent cost pressures across the housing and energy continued to weigh on households, according to the Australian ...

Investors thrust into rules of the 'jungle': Economist

KARREN VERGARA  |  WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 2026
Geopolitical risks are increasingly encroaching on traditional market cycles, forcing investors to make sense of these "jungle times" where anything goes, according to an economist.

Oil price shock to hit consumers 'relatively quickly': RBA

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |  WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 2026
RBA assistant governor Sarah Hunter said the central bank expects firms to pass-through higher input costs due to the Middle East conflict to consumers relatively quickly.

Removing CGT discount on all assets will make tax system fairer: Chalmers

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |  TUESDAY, 19 MAY 2026
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said changes to the capital gains tax (CGT) is fundamentally about reducing distortions in the tax system as a whole and to introduce a more fair and neutral system in place of the current one.

Budget boosts fuel security, misses clean energy opportunities

KARREN VERGARA  |  THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2026
With Treasury pledging a whopping $14.8 billion to boost fuel security amid the Middle East crisis, the 2026 Budget has been criticised or missing key opportunities to progress the clean energy transition.

Structural reforms necessary despite global shocks: Chalmers

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |  THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2026
Addressing the National Press Club Treasurer Jim Chalmers said global shocks are no longer rare and it is not possible to wait for calm to embark on big policy changes.

Investors the biggest losers in 2026 Budget

KARREN VERGARA  |  WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2026
As the 2026 Budget promises "bold, broad and ambitious" tax reforms, in addition to easing cost-of-living pressures and strengthening fuel security, wealth managers decry investors and the economy will not come out on top.

Industry welcomes government's productivity push

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |  WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2026
The Actuaries Institute and the Australian Banking Association (ABA) have welcomed the measures taken by the government to tackle structural productivity concerns in the Australian economy.

Government plans 'standardised' assessment for NDIS

RIDDHIMA TALWANI  |  TUESDAY, 12 MAY 2026
The government is taking the next steps to restore the NDIS to its original intent and reduce growth in NDIS payments by $37.8 billion over the next four years.

Chalmers chooses 'hard road of reform' in Budget

ELIZA BAVIN  |  TUESDAY, 12 MAY 2026
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has focused this Budget on finding savings and implementing reform, as the deficit is projected to hit $31.5 billion.