Hi all, A quick note to offer guidance on the new website. As well as the layout changes that make it easier to access content for new readers, it comes with a dramatically improved sign-up and resubscription process, greatly enhanced speed, and a much better mobile experience (since 95% of traffic is now phone!). The
Cotality’s March housing report has been released, showing that Australia’s rental crisis is deteriorating at an accelerating pace amid strengthening demand. Monthly advertised rental growth has held steady at 0.7% over the past two months, taking quarterly growth to 2.1%, the largest increase since May 2024. Over the year to March 2026, advertised rents rose
No. But the WSJ piece is the best option I’ve read since it started. President Trump told aides he’s willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, administration officials said, likely extending Tehran’s firm grip on the waterway and leaving a complex operation to reopen
TME with the charts. Still playing out – for now The dĂ©jĂ vu setup continues to play out, with price action, positioning, and macro signals all moving in the same direction. While short-term bounces are possible given stretched conditions, the broader backdrop, from flows to volatility dynamics and macro pressures, still argues for a fragile
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that data centres account for approximately 1-1.5% of global electricity use, which translates to around 330 million tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually. This figure represents about 0.9% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. The demand for digital services, including cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), is rapidly increasing. This growth
I would like Albo to take an IQ test. I think he would come in well below average. Labor MPs were “perplexed” by Anthony Albanese’s decision to slash the fuel excise, saying they were surprised the government had moved ahead with a plan many of them were against and that the Prime Minister had no
After experiencing one of the world’s largest house price booms during the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand has subsequently experienced one of the greatest price declines. As illustrated below by Justin Fabo from Antipodean Macro, New Zealand home prices have declined by more than 16% from their previous market peak in early 2022, with all major
The local gas price is still holding far below the Asian price, but it is now threatening to rise above $10Gj. The Asian price is still hovering around triple that at $30Gj. Today, the cartel makes its message crystal clear to Australia. ‘Tax us and you will pay‘. Shell Australia chair Cecile Wake said the
There is nothing new here, but the MB outlook is again creeping into respectable commentary, this time from Morgan Stanley. According to the bank, acute diesel sensitivity is a major macro risk in 2026, making Australia one of the economies most vulnerable to a worsening global energy supply shock. The bank points out that Australia’s
The Albanese government seems incapable of reining in spending and restoring the integrity of the federal budget. Over the weekend, we learned that the government is reconsidering plans to unwind the fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption on electric vehicles (EVs), which is forecast to cost taxpayers $1.35 billion this financial year—15 times the original forecast.
As the war in the Middle East continues to rage and gasoline prices continue to rocket, the net approval rating of the U.S. president has continued to dive to new lows for this current administration. According to an analysis by U.S. political analyst Nate Silver that weights data from multiple pollsters by quality, Trump has
Along with the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea is another crucial maritime area where the Middle East conflict has spread due to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This puts strain on two of the most significant energy corridors in the world at the same time, raising the risk of the global supply chain and
Australia’s housing market has clearly divided into two distinct blocks: Sydney and Melbourne, where values are now falling and Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, which continue to experience strong growth. Cotality’s daily dwelling values index for March 2026 clearly illustrates these trends. As illustrated below, dwelling values across the five main capital city markets grew by
Australia’s real per capita GDP growth has been in structural decline over the past 25 years. As illustrated below, 10-year annualised GDP per capita growth has fallen to its lowest level in recorded history (outside of the pandemic lockdown), growing by an anaemic 0.8% in 2025: The most recent national accounts release from the Australian
A new report from Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) argues that the nation’s skilled occupation list is fundamentally broken—packed with hundreds of roles that are not genuine shortages—resulting in migrants being brought in for jobs that either don’t exist, don’t require qualifications, or are already oversupplied with Australian workers. SPA claims that Australia’s skills shortage will
More soft data showing the leading edge of Albo’s fuel shock. Westpac’s credit card tracker is being distorted by a combination of weekly volatility and higher fuel expenditure. The most recent weekly pace, at 1.9%qtr, has improved from the 1.0%qtr seen late last year, but it is still below the 2-2.5% growth rates observed in
As the war in the Middle East and throttling of maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz continue, each passing day brings more news of nations seeking to secure their own domestic energy and food security. Looking back through the tumultuous centuries of human history, this is nothing new, with the crisis of the 14th
Weak gas prices continue. As does your having to wait three weeks for anything useful from the MSM after it is reported at MB. I say weak gas prices, but of course, that is a lie. $10Gj is very expensive. It is just normally so, without any war profiteering added on top. The ABC is
In 2024, Caitlin Cassidy from The Guardian documented that “mass cheating” was prevalent across Australia’s universities, led by international students. Cassidy also reported that academics at Australia’s universities were being precluded from failing poorly performing international students due to the risk it posed to fee revenue. Over the weekend, The Australian published an alarming
The ferrous market pulse is fading. Prices are easing despite rising input costs. Steel inventories are higher than 2025. Iron ore port accumulation has topped seasonally but is likely to resume soon. Because both the supply side… And the demand side… …are very weak in China. China is already chucking out more credit. And a
Over recent weeks, leading Sydney auctioneer Tom Panos has warned that Sydney’s housing market is under stress amid a surge in listings and buyers experiencing affordability constraints following recent interest rate hikes. Three weekends ago, Panos declared that the “market has changed”, noting that “buyer depth is diminishing” and “fear is gripping the market” amid
Australia is facing a growing diesel supply crisis, as the American Madman is to use ground troops for god only knows in the Persian Gulf. Diesel is critical to Australia’s economy, underpinning mining, agriculture, transport, and remote power generation. The country consumes far more diesel than petrol and relies heavily on imports, leaving it highly
According to Macquarie Bank: Oil may hit a record $200 a barrel if the Iran war drags on till June, with the Strait of Hormuz staying shut, Macquarie Group Ltd. said. “If the strait were to stay closed for an extended period, prices would need to move high enough to destroy an historically large amount of global
The latest housing affordability data from Cotality, released earlier this year, showed that both purchase and rental affordability were tracking at record lows. Last week, REA Group released its latest rental affordability report, which showed that affordability hit a record low at the end of 2025 following a 55% rise in median asking rents since
Australia has issues. All Australians have issues – whether here for ten days or ten generations. In no particular order, they include: House prices. Private debt they are forced to take on to buy a home. The rents they pay. The number of additional people they face on the roads or accessing services has increased
International Reading: Yes, It’s Time to Tax the Rich – Common Dreams Trump’s DOJ Makes Shocking Settlement With Michael Flynn. The Justice Department is forking over tons of taxpayer dollars to President Trump’s former national security adviser. – New Republic Trump Team Examines What Oil as High as $200 a Barrel Would Mean – Bloomberg
