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Nick Hossack

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 under Australia's prime ministers

Nearly five decades of ABS data reveal how Australia's unemployment rate has varied across successive prime ministerial terms.

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.