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21 Oct US Gas Price Update: Trump vs Biden and the Midterms 20 Oct What's Happening with AI and Electricity Usage in the USA? 19 Oct Why Private Equity is Arguing Tax Retrospectivity

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US Gas Prices

US Gas Price Update: Trump vs Biden and the Midterms

With three weeks until America's midterm elections, petrol prices are nearly 40% higher than a year ago. Updated official statistics show Trump's average price advantage over Biden has almost disappeared.

Artificial Intelligence

What's Happening with AI and Electricity Usage in the USA?

AI is transforming US electricity demand. Data centres could account for nearly 12% of national consumption by 2030, while rising wholesale prices and investment in electricity networks raise questions about who will pay for the boom.

Private Equity

Why Private Equity is Arguing Tax Retrospectivity

Understand why Australia's private equity industry says Labor's CGT changes are retrospective, with a worked example showing tax rising from 23.5% to 47%.

Tax Reform

A Trust’s $80,000 Tax Test: Student Versus Bucket Company

From 1 July 2028, the Albanese Government proposes a 30 per cent minimum tax on discretionary trusts. A simple $80,000 distribution shows why the legislation has become contentious. Assume a trust has $80,000 of taxable income in 2028–29. It allocates the entire amount either to an adult

Tax Reform

Explainer: How Australia's New 30% Tax on Trusts Will Work

Australia's proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts could substantially change family tax bills. We explain the new rules, with a worked example showing the financial impact.

Benchmark Indicators

Australian economy at a glance

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Political Data Alerts

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

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US Trade Deficit

The Latest on the US Trade Deficit as We Head to the US Mid-term Elections

The US trade deficit increased 13.7% in August as imports reached record levels. Yet the cumulative deficit for 2026 is nearly 20% smaller than last year. What does this mean for Trump's tariff policies ahead of the midterms?

Labour Market

Has Australia's Jobs Market Taken a Turn? What Does This Mean for Interest Rates?

Australian employment dropped sharply in September, but trend figures tell a more complicated story. With inflation still elevated, the RBA faces an increasingly difficult interest rate decision.

Card Surcharges

Credit card surcharge ban: 7% of surveyed businesses consider refusing credit cards

A Queensland business survey finds 7% considering abandoning credit-card payments. The ATO has already encountered the same cost problem. What happens next?

US Consumer Spending

Americans Are Spending More — But Their Incomes Are Stagnant

America's consumers are spending faster than their real incomes are growing. The latest BEA figures reveal a sharp reduction in household saving, raising questions about the sustainability of US economic growth.

Cyclone Reinsurance Pool Australia

Explainer: Australia's cyclone insurance pool — cheaper premiums, but who bears the risk?

Australia's cyclone reinsurance pool now protects approximately 3.2 million buildings, with cumulative claims reaching $1.65 billion. It is helping to reduce insurance premiums in cyclone-prone regions. But the scheme raises an important economic question: is Australia reducing cyclone risk, or simply changing who pays for

Consumer Confidence

Did the RBA's rate rise shock Australian consumers?

Consumer sentiment was 86.9 before the RBA's September rate decision and just 67.2 afterwards. What does this mean for spending and economic growth?

AES Payment Terminal Upgrade

Why Australia may need to upgrade one million payment terminals

Around 970,000 payment terminals and 25,000 ATMs may need upgrading as Australia replaces its ageing TDES encryption with the stronger AES standard. Here's what the technology actually does — and why quantum computing raises the stakes.

Operational Risk

The next financial crisis could start with a technology outage

Australia's banks can hold ample capital and liquidity and still face serious stress if the infrastructure connecting them stops working. The RBA says operational risk is becoming a financial-stability risk.

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