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Economics

Baby boomers to be urged to rethink early retirement

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 FEB 2004
Baby boomers will be urged to rethink their retirement plans in a major speech by Treasurer Peter Costello today, which will form a cornerstone of the coalition's re-election strategy.

Jobs at SMEs strongest since GST

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 24 FEB 2004
Employment in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) grew to their strongest levels in the January quarter since the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, a business index found.

Sydney median house price hits $500,000 in December: REI

AAP  |  MONDAY, 23 FEB 2004
The median price of a house in Sydney reached $500,000 in the December quarter 2003.

Global recovery will encourage growth in share markets

The economic recovery currently underway in most major regions is the first synchronised global recovery since 1994.

Government and employers agree on $10 wage rise for low paid

AAP  |  FRIDAY, 20 FEB 2004
The Commonwealth and employers have backed a wage rise of up to $10 a week for Australia's lowest-paid workers in this year's minimum wage case.

Australia second cheapest place to do business

AAP  |  FRIDAY, 20 FEB 2004
Australia is the second cheapest place in the world to do business and is only marginally more expensive than Canada, a new study has found.

Westpac-MI leading index rises back above trend average

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 18 FEB 2004
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index of Economic Activity, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity six to nine-months in the future, rose above its long-term trend in December.

FTA with US would continue to evolve: Vaile

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 18 FEB 2004
A free trade agreement between Australia and the United States would continue to evolve and be reviewed, Trade Minister Mark Vaile said today.

Small business confidence remains strong: ACCI

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 18 FEB 2004
Small business confidence has continued to rise over the past three months, according to the latest Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry small business survey.

Merchandise imports down in January: ABS

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 17 FEB 2004
Merchandise imports dropped in January to $9.942 billion, new figures showed today.