News Articles for Bill Evans

Australian businesses are still faring pretty well, but consumers remain fearful despite the interest rate hiking cycle drawing to a close.

The outlook for the Australian manufacturing sector remains gloomy as cost pressures show few signs of letting up.

Leading indicators for Australia's future growth are still signalling depressed activity in coming months as interest rate rises bite.

Westpac, St. George, HSBC, JP Morgan and AMP now expect the Reserve Bank won't raise rates in April - but ANZ and CBA still forecast a rate hike.

Despite a softening of language from the RBA, economists are still tipping another rate rise when the central bank next meets.

The Labor government expects wages will keep growing strongly as inflation moderates, ultimately leading to real wage growth by 2024.

New data suggests the sharp rise in inflation and an expected rapid rise in interest rates will take the edge off Australia's economic expansion.

RBA governor Philip Lowe has told a business conference inflation could reach four per cent-plus as a result of the Ukraine war and the floods in Australia.

Economists are still confident of a further drop in the unemployment rate and a relatively solid rise in employment when the December labour force figures are released on Thursday.

Two separate surveys have found consumers and bosses are showing some resilience in the face of the Omicron outbreak.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg believes there is a case to review the operations of the independent Reserve Bank of Australia.

New figures show real wage growth was going backwards even before the expected crunch to the economy from widespread virus lockdowns.

Retail spending across Australia jumped 1.4 per cent in March, stronger than the 1 per cent increase expected by economists.

New figures show Australia looks set for solid economic growth in coming months, with unemployment falling further as jobs vacancies surged to an 18-month high.

Australia looks set to enjoy solid economic growth for the rest of what has been a traumatic year, rebounding smartly from the first recession in nearly three decades.

The recent buoyancy of consumer confidence has yet to be reflected in retail spending, which is down 1.5 per cent in September.

There is growing speculation the Reserve Bank board will endorse a suite of measures to further boost the economic recovery from recession, including trimming the cash rate.

Qantas chief Alan Joyce is confident the Morrison government will extend its support for the aviation sector during the coronavirus crisis.

Consumer confidence received a much needed boost from last Friday's three-step plan from the national cabinet to lift coronavirus-related restrictions in the months ahead.

Consumer confidence has experienced a relatively stable six months, while economists expect the unemployment rate to have remained steady at 5.7 per cent in August.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has put a positive spin on the local jobs outlook, but says another rate cut could be on the cards because of weak inflation.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has left the cash rate unchanged at a record low of 2 per cent for an 11th straight month.

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans has predicted the iron ore price will go over the $100 per tonne mark next year, on the back of improved Chinese consumer confidence.

While most media attention seems focused on iron ore and the major operators, there's a number of smaller players offering plenty of potential across a range of minerals. Here's the WA Business News 10 mining stocks to watch.