Opinion: Wages growth is slowing as Australia’s labour market softens, adding to household cost-of-living pressures. But weaker wages could also help bring inflation down faster, opening the door to earlier interest rate cuts, argues Stephen Koukoulas With households facing extended cost-of-living pressures, wages growth is a critical indicator of both the financial strain many Australians […]
Strong employment growth, high participation and narrowing gender gaps show Australia’s labour market remains in good health, despite signs of a broader economic slowdown, argues Stephen Koukoulas. Australia’s labour market is in good health. This does not mean it is perfect. Far from it. But considering that perfection in the labour market is as unrealistic […]
Opinion: Australia’s march towards $1 trillion in gross debt has prompted plenty of hand-wringing, but a closer look tells a far less alarming story, argues economist Stephen Koukoulas. Every Friday, the Australian Office of Financial Management publishes the total value of Australian government securities on issue. On Friday 17 July 2026, that figure was just […]
Opinion: House prices have only just begun to soften, but a deeper and more prolonged downturn could weigh on household spending, construction and economic growth, argues Stephen Koukoulas. Australian house prices have started to fall. The drop is not large at this stage – it is less than one per cent from the peak in […]