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Economics

Fed leaves US rates unchanged, pledges patience

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 17 MAR 2004
The US Federal Reserve opted today to keep interest rates at 1958 lows and signalled it was in no hurry to raise borrowing costs with job creation so sluggish and inflation tame.

Property investment loans plunge in January: ABS

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 16 MAR 2004
New loans to property investors plunged 15.5% in January, figures showed today, confirming higher interest rates have cooled interest in the housing market.

CEOs still confident about company growth: index

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 16 MAR 2004
Australia's chief executive officers are still positive about company growth despite a slight dip in confidence in the first quarter of 2004, a survey has shown.

Federal budget deficit $2.656 billion to end January

AAP  |  MONDAY, 15 MAR 2004
The federal Budget was $2.656 billion in deficit to January 31, Finance Minister Nick Minchin said on Friday.

Housing finance figures point to continued market cooling

AAP  |  FRIDAY, 12 MAR 2004
New figures today point to a continued cooling in the property market in the wake of the latest two increases in mortgage rates.

Housing affordability down in December

Housing affordability for first-time home buyers fell 8.4%, reaching a record low in the December quarter.

Jobless rate rises to 5.9% in February: ABS

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 11 MAR 2004
Australia's jobless rate rose to 5.9% in February, new figures showed today, from a revised 5.8% in January.

Consumer inflation expectations fall in March

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 11 MAR 2004
Australian consumers expectations of inflation in the coming year fell for the second consecutive month to 3.6% in March, a survey showed.

Consumer sentiment falls from nine-year high: Westpac

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 10 MAR 2004
The Westpac/Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment fell by 3.8% this month, seasonally adjusted, from a nine-year high reached in February.

Leap year boosts February retail figures: Cashcard

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 10 MAR 2004
An extra day thanks to the leap year helped Australian retail spending levels nudge higher in February but the shortest month in the calendar remains the lowest one for turnover, research found.