Australia’s economy grew 0.8% in the December quarter 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) National Accounts released on 4 March 2026. Annually, GDP grew 2.6% — the fastest annual growth rate in nearly three years, beating the market forecast of 2.2%. It was the 17th consecutive quarter of growth, and the first…
Australia’s housing affordability has reached the worst levels on record. The national median dwelling value sits at $922,838 as at February 2026 according to Cotality, while the average Australian household needs 11 years to save a deposit. Only 14% of median income households can afford to buy the median-priced home nationally — down from 43%…
Australia’s rental vacancy rate fell to 1.0% in March 2026 according to SQM Research — down from 1.1% in February and approaching the acute shortage threshold. That means just 31,732 rental properties were sitting empty across the entire country. For tenants, it means competition for available properties is as intense as it has been in…
Youth Allowance is the Australian Government’s income support payment for young people who are studying full-time, doing an Australian Apprenticeship, or looking for work. More than one million Australians receive Youth Allowance in 2026, with rates updated in January this year. Here is a complete guide to current Youth Allowance rates, eligibility, and income tests…
One tax rate is changing when the new financial year starts. From 1 July 2026, the marginal rate on income between $18,201 and $45,000 drops from 16% to 15%. Every other bracket stays exactly where it is. That single change is worth up to $268 per year for most working Australians — and it applies…
The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the March 2026 Consumer Price Index on 29 April 2026. Headline inflation came in at 4.6 per cent annually — up sharply from 3.7 per cent in February and the highest reading since September 2023. The result beat most economist forecasts and was the primary driver of the RBA’s…
The Reserve Bank of Australia meets eight times per year to decide the official cash rate. Every meeting runs across two days, with the decision announced at 2:30pm AEST on the second day, followed by a media conference with the Governor at 3:30pm. Meeting minutes are published two weeks after each decision. Here is the…
More than 3 million Australians carry a HECS-HELP debt, with a combined balance exceeding $78 billion. In 2025-26, the system went through the biggest set of changes in a generation — a 20 per cent debt cut, a new repayment threshold, and a new way of calculating compulsory repayments. Here is a plain-English guide to…
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Superannuation decisions are complex and individual circumstances vary significantly. Consult a licensed financial adviser before making any decisions about your superannuation. The question every working Australian eventually asks is: how much super do I actually need to retire comfortably? In 2026,…