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Economics

Productivity Commission to crack down on homeowners' scheme loopholes

Millionaires would be banned from receiving a $7,000 taxpayer subsidy towards their first home under a call to means test the first homeowners' scheme, the Productivity Commission revealed today.

Home building up, merchandise imports down in September quarter

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 16 DEC 2003
Home building activity picked up in the three months to September, the first rise in a year, new figures showed today.

Latham poll shows election to be close: Costello

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 16 DEC 2003
An opinion poll which indicated a surge in support for Labor leader Mark Latham showed the federal election expected next year would be a close race, Treasurer Peter Costello said.

Farm income to lift 45 per cent in 2003-2004

AAP  |  MONDAY, 15 DEC 2003
Farmers should enjoy a 45 per cent lift in income this year but the drought and the stronger dollar will still make conditions tough.

CEOs say rate hikes biggest threat to economy: survey

AAP  |  MONDAY, 15 DEC 2003
Australia's chief executive officers believe rising interest rates will prove the biggest threat to the economy in 2004, according to a new survey.

Super co-contribution draft regulations released to public

Draft regulations to give effect to the Government's superannuation co-contribution for low-income earners measure have been released for public comment, the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, Senator Helen Coonan has announced

Jobless rate stuck at 14-year lows in November: ABS

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 11 DEC 2003
More than 20,000 jobs were created in November, new figures showed today, keeping the jobless rate at a near 14-year low of 5.6 per cent.

Consumer inflation expectations fall in December, at six month lows

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 11 DEC 2003
Consumer expectations of inflation over the coming year fell for the second consecutive month to hit six-year lows in December at 3.1 per cent.

Economists expect a small rise in employment in November

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 11 DEC 2003
Economists expect a small rise in jobs in November to have kept Australia's unemployment rate very close to the near 14-year lows it hit in October.

Home lending falls for first time in almost 12 months: ABS

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 10 DEC 2003
Home loan approvals fell in October for the first time in almost a year, new figures showed today, driven by a drop in people buying established homes.