by Stephen Roberts | 23 Sep, 2024 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
The latest labour force report for August shows employment up more strongly than widely expected. Total employment is up 47,800 in August after a revised 48,900 gain in July. Over the year ending August employment is up 374,700, or 2.7% y-o-y, a remarkable increase...
by Stephen Roberts | 16 Sep, 2024 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
Over recent months several major central banks around the world have started to cut official interest rates and this week the US Federal Reserve looks set to join the group. None of the central banks cutting official rates have brought inflation down to their...
by Stephen Roberts | 9 Sep, 2024 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
Australian economic growth has slowed through the first half of 2024 to 1.0% y-o-y from 1.6% y-o-y in the second half of 2023 and 3.7% y-o-y in the first half of 2023. At face value, that is the order of growth slowdown that could ease inflation and allow the RBA to...
by Stephen Roberts | 2 Sep, 2024 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
Risk assets rallied in August and government bond yields fell as key central banks indicated that supporting growth is vying with the need to go the last mile battening down inflation to their various targets. Australia’s RBA remained an odd-man-out still toying with...
by Stephen Roberts | 26 Aug, 2024 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
Economic data released in August show soft global economic growth and again patchy progress reducing inflation. Key major central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, are indicating that the focus of monetary policy has or is about to shift towards limiting damage...
by Stephen Roberts | 19 Aug, 2024 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
Key labour market data released last week show more buoyant conditions than in July last year, notwithstanding a small lift in the unemployment rate to 4.2% in July. The strength of the labour market adds to reasons why the RBA cannot begin to reduce the cash rate in...
