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Economics

Aust business confidence strong but may have peaked, ACCI survey

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 6 MAY 2004
Business confidence was running strong across Australia but it might have reached its peak, according to a national survey of employer expectations released today.

$1 billion public service wage bill blow-out

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 6 MAY 2004
Spending on the commonwealth public service has blown out by more than $1 billion under the Howard government, it was claimed today.

RBA decision to leave rates expected and clear cut: economists

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 5 MAY 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to leave rates unchanged today was largely expected by the market and pretty clear cut, economists said today.

Aust building approvals fall 4.4% in March - ABS

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 5 MAY 2004
Building approvals fell sharply in March, new figures showed today, making up for a surprise increase the previous month.

Reserve Bank of Australia tipped to leave rates on hold

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 5 MAY 2004
The Reserve Bank is tipped to leave interest rates on hold today but many analysts are predicting a rise in the next month or two.

US Fed holds key short-term rate steady

The Federal Reserve held a main short-term interest rate at a 46-year low today in an attempt to keep the US economy humming.

Aust bulding approvals likely to fall in March: economists

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 5 MAY 2004
Australian building approvals are expected to resume a downward trend in March, after a surprise hike in February, as approvals for units and apartments come off the boil, economists said.

US, Australia to sign free trade deal May 18

The US administration today made its own announcement on the US-Australia free trade agreement (FTA), confirming it will be signed in Washington on 18 May.

Australia newspaper job ads fall for first time in 4 months in April: ANZ

The number of job advertisements in major metropolitan newspapers fell for the first time in four months, a jobs series showed.

Australian price of goods and services rose 0.1% in April: TD/MI

AAP  |  MONDAY, 3 MAY 2004
The price of Australian consumer goods and services rose slightly in April, driven by increases in the cost of health and medical services, rents and fruit and vegetables, an inflation measure showed.