Benchmark Analytics

Independent economic and financial services analysis

Original analysis of new Australian economic and financial-services data.

Subscribe Explore Political Data Alerts

Latest updates

1 Oct Australia’s inflation data now tells two quite different stories 1 Oct Job vacancies point to a softer private labour market 1 Oct CBA is closing the gap on NAB in business banking

Latest analysis

Inflation

Australia’s inflation data now tells two quite different stories

August’s inflation shock came from fuel. But beneath the headline, three-quarters of Australia’s annual inflation contribution remains concentrated in non-tradables.

Job Vacancies

Job vacancies point to a softer private labour market

Australian job vacancies fell again in August, but the headline conceals a sharper decline in private-sector labour demand. Vacancies per unemployed worker have almost halved from their 2022 peak.

CBA

CBA is closing the gap on NAB in business banking

National Australia Bank has traditionally been Australia’s main business bank. For more than two decades, NAB has held a leading position in business lending, supported by a large specialist business banking network and strong franchises in areas such as agriculture, health and commercial property. That leadership remains intact. But

Australian Fuel Inflation

Chalmers Has One Point, Fuel Did Explain More Than 100% of August CPI Rise

One component added more to August CPI than the entire CPI actually rose. The detailed ABS numbers explain how.

AI Investment Boom

The AI investment boom has arrived in the economic data

New US and Australian figures reveal surging investment in AI-related infrastructure. Explore the numbers and what they mean for Australia's productivity.

Benchmark Indicators

Australian economy at a glance

View all 15 indicators →

Political Data Alerts

Know what the new data means.

Priority monitoring and rapid analysis of the releases that matter to government relations, corporate affairs and policy teams.

Explore Political Data Alerts

More analysis

Macquarie Bank

Macquarie Bank growth: APRA data sharpens CBA capital debate

APRA’s August 2026 banking statistics show Macquarie Bank with $366.2 billion of resident assets, up 22.7 per cent over the past year, compared with growth of 6.6 per cent across the banking system. The expansion is concentrated where Macquarie competes directly with the majors. Its housing

Card Surcharges

Explainer: Why Australia's 23-year card surcharge experiment is ending

Australia deliberately enabled card surcharging in 2003 to improve payment price signals and merchant bargaining power. Twenty-three years later, the RBA has concluded that the system no longer works as intended.

Australian Household Spending

Household spending flat as RBA weighs rate rise in a few hours

Household spending stalled in August after strong gains in June and July. The result gives the RBA some evidence demand is slowing, but underlying spending and inflation remain firm.

Yep, Costello taxed more than Chalmers...but borrowed much less

How much tax Australia collects relative to the size of the economy has changed substantially over the past six decades. A debate is raging as to which Australian Treasurer taxed the most. Using the ABS Modellers’ Database, Benchmark Analytics has calculated a quarterly tax-to-GDP measure by combining indirect

RBA

Background to the RBA decision today at 2.30pm

The RBA meets tomorrow with underlying inflation at 3.6%, unemployment at 4.6% and financial markets expecting another interest-rate increase. Here are the key economic numbers.

CBA

Understanding CBA's capital argument against Macquarie Bank

CBA has raised questions about the capital treatment of Macquarie’s NOHC structure. Here is how bank capital works, how the two structures differ, and why capital requirements can affect lending and deposit pricing.

Financial Accountability Regime Reforms

Australia's banking accountability rules are being simplified. What is changing?

Australia's financial regulators are proposing to simplify executive accountability rules affecting 4,500 people. The changes could halve accountability-map updates without removing the underlying obligations.

ASIC

Machines execute 85% of Australian share trading. ASIC is tightening the rules

Algorithms execute 85% of Australian share trading. Discover how automated trading works, the risks ASIC has identified and its new rules for 2028.

Independent economic and financial services analysis

Latest analysis

Australian economy at a glance

Know what the new data means.

More analysis

Independent analysis when decisions matter

Never miss new Benchmark analysis