Almost four out of 10 people in WA would have to sell something or turn to credit if faced by an unexpected bill, a survey by the Financial Counsellors Association of WA has found. The cost-of-living survey, which was conducted on 1,074 respondents in July 2024, found 37 per cent said they would be unable...
Tag: cost of living
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Unemployment rate climbs to 4.2 per cent in July with more than 58,000 jobs created
The unemployment rate has climbed to 4.2 per cent in July — its highest level since November 2021 — as Australia’s economy continues to slow down. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed more than 58,000 jobs were created last month, with the majority in full-time roles. However, the number of unemployed people grew...
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Importing coffee beans into Australia has never been more expensive. Here’s what that means for your daily fix
The cost of importing coffee beans into Australia has never been more expensive, and there are few signs these record prices will ease anytime soon. While wages, rents and operational costs account for the vast majority of what you pay for a coffee, inclement weather in coffee-producing regions overseas is also putting upward pressure on...
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The RBA has managed to dodge a bullet on interest rates, but dark economic clouds are looming
That’s the thing with silver linings. They’re usually attached to dark clouds. After salivating for months about the prospect of interest rate cuts and blithely ignoring reality, financial markets suddenly are in a mad panic about the fundamentals driving the push for cuts. This time last week, our stock market surged to a new record,...
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These are the simple, brutal numbers that explain why households are doing it tough right now
There won’t be protest marches in the streets when the Reserve Bank of Australia makes its next decision on interest rates. But that’s only because everyone who would join the throng will be busy working. Many of them will be trying to get it all done before school pick-up, or perhaps before the childcare centre...
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McDonald’s sales fall as inflation-weary customers turn away from fast food
In short: McDonald’s sees its first fall in sales in nearly four years, as inflation-weary customers skip eating out. It comes as US burger company Carl’s Junior placed its Australian stores into voluntary administration this week. What’s next? McDonald’s CEO has told investors the company will rethink its pricing to get customers back. Global giant...
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Australian Army Band offering musicians a rare full-time job opportunity – ABC listen
Rachel Mealey: It’s famously difficult to make a living as a musician, but for a select few, a gig with the Australian Army Band has proven to be a dream job. It’s a role that offers job security, audiences all over the country and a chance to travel the world. But it comes with some...
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There is a cheaper alternative to supermarkets, but most people don’t know it exists
It’s 5:30am on a cold Saturday and Paddy’s Markets Flemington, a fruit and vegetable market in western Sydney, is already buzzing. Trolleys weave through shoppers bargaining with cash in hand and traders shouting their prices. Josh Blythe and his son Chris have arrived with a mammoth task. “We are here to feed 12 families for...
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‘Nasty’ inflation numbers could deliver a rate rise despite retail discounting frenzy
Australia’s struggling retail sector has been given a glimmer of hope, with rolling sales encouraging shoppers to spend — but economists warn that it may come with the price of another interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank. The recent jump in retail spending, boosted by clothing and footwear retailers offering big discounts and earlier-than-usual...
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This shop saves tonnes of goods from going to landfill each year, and nothing has a fixed price
At Anglesea on Victoria’s Surf Coast, any goods dropped off at the local dump but deemed too good for landfill make their way to the “tip shop”. Tip shops, sometimes referred to as resale sheds or treasure chest shops, can be found at dozens of locations around the country. And as Australians continue to grapple...
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Aldi stores 25pc cheaper than Coles, Woolworths, Choice report finds
In short: Consumer advocacy group Choice says there is a difference of just 75 cents for the same basic grocery items at Coles and Woolworths. Choice found that German supermarket chain Aldi was substantially cheaper, with items around $15 less at the check-out. What’s next? Australia’s highly concentrated supermarket sector is the subject of a...
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Sleepout fundraiser amid ‘new wave of homelessness’ is a cause close to home for this executive
In short: Business executive Angelique Boileau, who experienced homelessness after World War II, will be participating in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. The charity says demand has been greater than ever with shelters regularly turning away people. What’s next? This year’s event aims to raise $900,000, which the charity says could provide more than 8,000 nights...
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