Craig James
News and interviews on Craig James including trends, features, blogs and community conversations from an Australian business perspective.
Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Indicator shows signs of faltering recovery: Midday roundupMonday, 21 May 2012
Economy-wide spending rose in April but at the slowest pace in seven months, raising questions about Australia's path of recovery. ...
RBA downgrades expectations for property market as confidence and industry conditions still disappoint
Monday, 07 May 2012
The Reserve Bank has downgraded its expectations for the housing market, delivering a downbeat assessment in which it says income-to-housing ratios have reached levels not seen since 2002, and that a recovery is still going to take some time. ...
Interest rate hike next week now unlikely, but economists say rates will rise in 2011
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Interest rates may be kept on hold next week and even in December due to lower-than-expected inflation figures, but lower unemployment and the mining boom in Western Australia will only continue to put pressure on rates, economists predict. ...
Inflation figures lower than expected, interest rate fears ease: Economy roundup
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Fears of another rate rise next week appear to have been put to rest, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealing inflation rose by a lower-than-expected 0.7% during the September quarter, putting yearly inflation at 2.8% in the 12 months to Septemb ...
Western Australia and ACT our strongest economies, Qld struggling with high Australian dollar: Report
Monday, 25 October 2010
The Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia are the best performing states in the country, especially in WA where the mining boom is escalating economic growth to well above "normal" levels, CommSec's new State of the States report reveals. ...
Wealth hits new highs but conservative consumers opt to pay down debt
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Australians are now the wealthiest they have ever been, with the collective value of all assets reaching a record high of $5.87 trillion, according to the latest figures released by CommSec. ...
Business spending lifts again as confidence grows and rates remain on hold
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Business spending has risen for the second straight month as consumer and business confidence was boosted by improving economic conditions and the RBA's decision to leave rates on hold. ...
THE BIG PICTURE: How US stimulus and the Australian dollar are connected
Monday, 18 October 2010
There is no doubt that there is only one game in town – one 'hot button' issue, if you like – and that's quantitative easing. In essence the term refers to the printing of more money; but as you would expect economists 'pooh-pooh' that kind of simplification ...
Five industries that could be hit by a cold, wet La Niña weather pattern
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Retailers, utility companies and the property sector are among those that could be hit by a cold and wet weather that would result from the onset of a La Niña weather pattern, a leading economist has warned. ...
Is the housing market losing steam? A SmartCompany Q&A
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
While commentators have spent much of this year worried about the possibility Australia has a housing bubble, data released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests these fears are starting to subside – indeed, many are questioning whether ...
THE BIG PICTURE: Why investors have plenty of options
Monday, 11 October 2010
With another interest rate decision out of the way, it's a good time to assess the state of play with investment returns. Of course while we can track current returns, investors always have to be forward looking and that requires a more detailed assessment ...
Unemployment remains at 5.1% in September, Construction activity down again: Economy Roundup
Thursday, 07 October 2010
The unemployment rate remained at 5.1% during September, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. ...
Rate rise may only be a month away: Experts
Wednesday, 06 October 2010
The Reserve Bank of Australia has set the scene for a possible Melbourne Cup Day rate rise on November 2, after surprising economists and the market by leaving rates on hold at 4.5%. ...
Rate rise decision will be a close call
Tuesday, 05 October 2010
Economists are divided on whether the RBA will lift the official cash rate today, with futures markets putting the chance of a rate rise at 60%. ...
Inflation gauge rises just 0.1% in September, Shares move higher: Economy Roundup
Monday, 04 October 2010
A private gauge of inflation increased during September, with economists saying the data will give the RBA more reason to lift rates ahead of tomorrow's board meeting. ...
THE BIG PICTURE: Why the RBA wants to get ahead of the game
Monday, 04 October 2010
Next week the Reserve Bank is widely expected to lift interest rates. Interestingly if you go back just over a fortnight ago no major forecaster was expecting a rate increase in October, believing that the Reserve Bank would want to see the September quarter ...
House prices flat in August, market could tread water until the end of 2011
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Australia's housing market is continuing to track sideways, with the latest RP Data-Rismark house price index showing national priced dipped by 0.2% in August. ...
Fitch Ratings to stress test banks over housing bubble concerns, but says downturn still unlikely
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Fitch Ratings will conduct a stress test on the Australian mortgage market in response to concerns the industry will suffer a collapse, with analysts both home and abroad suggesting the market will suffer as interest rates increase. ...
THE BIG PICTURE: Why exploding housing bubble fears could be good for the sharemarket
Monday, 27 September 2010
Finally one of the great myths has been debunked. The Reserve Bank has finally acknowledged that housing affordability is not a major problem in Australia. Neither is it worsening dramatically, or alternatively going through the floor. Actually it has been ...
Cold start to spring could hurt retailers, economist warns
Friday, 24 September 2010
An unseasonably cold start to Spring is threatening to inflict further pain on Australia's struggling retailers, with CommSec economist Craig James warning retailers of clothing, outdoor goods and food could be hit hard. ...
