RBA stories
Borrowers could face higher repayments as economists say the cash rate is likely to rise 25 basis points to an 18-year high.
Hiring improved in the September quarter as small business jobs rose 3.9%, though wage growth slowed and sector performance stayed uneven.
Rising fuel costs and broad-based price pressures have left the Reserve Bank of Australia with little room to hold rates steady next week.
Higher borrowing costs and weak confidence have left Australia's spring housing market sluggish, with sales down 20.9% and selling times stretching to 41 days.
The latest jobs report may exaggerate weakness, with CreditorWatch's chief economist blaming volatile state and part-time figures for the national drop.
The latest figures point to weaker demand and tighter margins, with employment across Australian small businesses down 0.6% in July.
Higher borrowing costs and cautious shoppers are forcing retailers to protect margins, avoid markdowns and get stock to the right place.
Households are feeling the squeeze as higher fuel costs and the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest rate rise drove confidence down 4.7% in October.
Renters could keep earning card rewards as surcharges and platform changes push more landlords to drop credit card payments.
Renters who rely on card rewards could soon lose that option as one major payments platform stops taking cards, prompting a new alternative.
The surcharge ban could squeeze merchants' margins unless they shift customers towards cheaper account-to-account payments, Hello Clever says.
A softer August reading may not spare borrowers, with CreditorWatch warning that broad-based price pressures still point to another RBA hike.
Shoppers will see fewer checkout fees on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa payments, though public holiday and weekend surcharges still apply.
Borrowing power has fallen by nearly AUD $90,000 for a median-income household, leaving sales and prices under renewed pressure.
Fuel and other essentials kept Australian consumers under pressure in August, with flat spending and weaker non-fuel outlays pointing to caution.
Businesses using spend management software could face costly lock-in if their platform only works with its own corporate cards.
Higher interest rates and price mismatches are leaving more homes unsold, as Australia's capital-city clearance rate slips to 49.1%.
Australia's labour market sent mixed signals in August, but inflation worries still leave the Reserve Bank likely to lift interest rates next week.
Australian households and debt-laden firms face further borrowing-cost pressure, with CreditorWatch seeing no chance of the RBA standing pat in September.
Residential builders face rising defaults and insolvencies as Australia's AUD $150 billion data centre pipeline squeezes labour and materials.
