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 Analytics
Independent economic and financial services analysis
Original analysis of new Australian economic and financial-services data.
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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
Benchmark Indicators
Australian economy at a glance
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.
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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.
Unemployment Rate by Prime Minister
Unemployment under Australia's prime ministers
Nearly five decades of ABS data reveal how Australia's unemployment rate has varied across successive prime ministerial terms.
Houehold Wealth
Australia and America store their wealth very differently
More than half of Australian household assets are tied up in housing. In America, the equivalent figure is only one-quarter. The difference reveals two very different household balance sheets.
Barclays
Barclays returns to towns where it closed branches two years ago
Barclays has cut its UK branch network dramatically over the past decade. Now it is opening branches again — but the new model reveals how the role of face-to-face banking is changing.
Is anyone still working long hours?
Australia's latest labour force figures show unemployment rising to 4.6%. But behind the monthly figures is a structural change in how Australians work: the long working week is becoming increasingly uncommon.
In August, employment increased by 39,500 people. Full-time employment fell by 6,300, while