Economics

Retail stocks were on the nose for some time amid fears of recession, the impact of rising interest rates, the cost-of-living crisis and inflation’s impact on the cost of doing business. 

The recent HY24 reporting season, however, revealed much of the fear was misplaced. Aggregate revenue growth tended to beat estimates despite moderating slightly. Meanwhile, even though earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margins compressed as the cost of doing business grew, this was somewhat offset by gross profit growth. Companies were able to pass on higher prices and more, and in the face of those price increases, consumers were surprisingly resilient.  continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Economics.

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New spending figures published by the Association of Superannuation Fund of Australia (ASFA) define what it means to be comfortable in retirement. And while their numbers are well above the current age pension payments, I am not sure even those elevated numbers realistically measure up to what many, if not most, people would describe as comfortable.  continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Editor's Pick.

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According to CoreLogic, the median dwelling price for Australia is $760,000; the median dwelling price in the eight capital cities (6 States and 2 Territories) is $836,000, ranging from Sydney ($1.122 million) to Darwin ($522,000), whilst the median dwelling price for Australia’s regional towns is $605,000.  continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Economics, Global markets, Property.

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In this week’s video insight, I discuss how Treasurer Jim Chalmers highlights that Australian wages are growing faster than the Consumer Price Index (CPI); a claim that overlooks the CPI’s failure to account for mortgage interest payments, thus not fully capturing the cost of living. With household debt and mortgage interest on the rise, I explore the expectation of an easing in the decline of real wages relative to living costs, amidst speculation of potential interest rate reductions. continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Economics, Video Insights.

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Until recently, China’s decelerating inflation was welcomed by the West, as it led to lower imported prices and helped reduce inflationary pressures. However, China’s consumer prices fell for the third consecutive month in December 2023, delaying the expected rebound in economic activity following the lifting of COVID-19 controls. For calendar year 2023, CPI growth was negligible, whilst the producer price index declined by 3.0 per cent. continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Economics, Editor's Pick, Global markets.

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Here’s a bit of a depressing picture for the retail sector for the September 2023 quarter. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) paints a bleak outlook for retailers this Christmas and into early 2024. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Market commentary.

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In this week’s video insight I wanted to discuss the contrasting predictions from Australia’s major banks regarding interest rates, painting a nuanced picture of the economic landscape. Shayne Elliott from ANZ anticipates sustained rate hikes amid escalating growth pressures. In contrast, NAB’s Ross McEwan suggests rates might have peaked, while CBA hints at a possible rate cut. These varied perspectives hold significant implications for households with mortgages and investors. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Video Insights.

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In my recent interview with Ausbiz, I aimed to provide insights into prevailing economic trends, particularly focusing on the U.S. economy. It’s evident that the market sentiment has transitioned from recession concerns to the possibility of enduring inflation, a shift I believe might stem from potentially overreaching actions by the Federal Reserve to curb economic momentum. Additionally, I discussed the likelihood of the Australian economy already being in a recession and the potential impact on both the broader equity market and small-cap stocks in general. You can watch the full interview here. Ausbiz – A deflationary surprise?

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Market commentary, TV Appearances.

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Central banks across the globe find themselves in a challenging predicament, and our own Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) faces a particularly delicate situation. In Australia, an intricate interplay of demographics and home ownership dynamics creates a paradox where those who bear the brunt of rising interest rates are not the ones fuelling the inflationary fire through their spending habits. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Editor's Pick, Market commentary.

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Just 48 hours after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted rates for the 13^th time by 25 basis points to 4.35 per cent, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Chair Jerome Powell said at a conference in Washington that “we are not confident” the Fed has tightened enough to bring inflation down to its 2 per cent goal. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Editor's Pick, Market commentary.

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