Corporate news, markets, and the economy
Consumer confidence has collapsed to a record low as Australians spend more while mortgage stress hits new heights. The double squeeze of inflation and interest rates is rewriting household budgets across the country.
Andrew Marsh 
Australia's peak transport body says the government's latest fuel relief measures are too slow and incomplete, warning trucking operators are facing immediate collapse without emergency direct assistance.
Mitchell Tan 
After a decade of legal battles across multiple jurisdictions, Apple's App Store practices face their most serious challenge yet, with courts finding willful violations and regulatory fines mounting globally.
Tom Whitfield The EU and Australia have concluded negotiations on a landmark free trade agreement that eliminates tariffs on critical minerals, agricultural goods, and advanced manufacturing, potentially adding A$10 billion annually to Australia's economy.
Oliver Pemberton Australia's regional property markets are significantly outpacing capital cities as affordability pressures and tight rental markets push younger Australians toward lifestyle migration. Regional prices are up 11.1% year-on-year.
Darren Ong 
Meta will fund seven new natural gas plants in rural Louisiana to power its sprawling AI data centre. Combined with earlier approvals, ten plants generating 7.5 gigawatts will anchor the facility. But consumer advocates warn the long-term risk falls on ratepayers.
Meg Hadley 
Linear's CEO declares issue tracking dead as the platform launches AI agents. The move signals a seismic shift in software development tooling, but raises tough questions about whether the category can survive the transition.
Darren Ong 
Political leaders have compared the Middle East conflict to COVID-19's economic shock. Experts say the similarities mask deeper differences in how these crises will actually unfold.
Megan Torres The RBA raised rates to 4.1% on March 17 by just one vote. That narrow split is not just a statistic: it signals serious doubts about whether current policy will tame inflation without causing worse damage.
Victoria Crawford Australians got a 3.4% wage rise, but inflation hit 3.8%. That's a losing game. And the RBA just made it worse.
Andrew Marsh 
Australians are abandoning petrol pumps in record numbers as fuel costs soar. The question is whether the switch to electric vehicles represents sensible economic adaptation or fear-driven decision making.
Mitchell Tan 
With construction materials surging up to 36 per cent due to fuel price shocks, experts say homeowners and builders must ask harder questions about cost escalation clauses and supplier resilience.
James Callahan 
A critical industrial gas used in semiconductor manufacturing faces acute shortages after Middle East conflict disrupts production. Taiwan's Air Liquide facility marks industry response to emerging supply crisis.
Zara Mitchell 
Kyle Sandilands appeared in Federal Court on Friday to challenge ARN's termination of his $100 million contract, claiming the broadcaster had no valid grounds to end the deal.
Jake Nguyen Personal insolvencies jumped 14% in the past year while construction sector collapses hit record levels. Australians' financial buffers are depleted and wages aren't keeping up with inflation.
Andrew Marsh Australian retail sales hit $38.63 billion in January 2026, up 5.5%, even as consumer confidence sank to its second-lowest level on record. The divergence points to a fundamental change in how Australian families are spending money.
Darren Ong Commonwealth Bank and other major lenders raised mortgage rates on March 27 following the RBA's latest decision. For a typical $600,000 mortgage, that's roughly $1,200 extra per year.
Andrew Marsh 
Tropical Cyclone Narelle has knocked Australian liquefied natural gas exports offline at a critical moment, threatening energy supplies for Asian economies heavily dependent on Australian fuel.
Yuki Tamura 
Netflix has raised prices across all three subscription tiers, marking the second increase in less than 18 months. The move comes as streaming costs spiral industry-wide.
Jake Nguyen 
As fuel prices hit record highs, Australians are abandoning cars for public transport, bikes and working from home. History suggests these shifts may reshape our society for years to come.
Daniel Kovac