I have been highlighting the unequal position of households across Australia, with significant numbers in financial stress, whilst others are still spending big, and seeing real wages growing fast. This is having a weird effect on data with some signals showing significant consumer strength, and others extreme weakness. This makes it difficult at the aggregate … Continue reading "Household Spendathon Still On (For Some)…"

The REA Group just published PropTrack Rental Price Data to December Quarter 2024. They say that National median weekly advertised rents increased by 1.6% over the December 2024 quarter to a new high of $620. But note this the asking price of new rentals. And does not cover rental increases on existing property where the … Continue reading "Rental Growth Hits A Ceiling!"

The latest monthly CPI data for November 2024 was released today, and while the headline rate rose, the important trimmed mean figure, which the RBA tracks, slipped in November despite being still able the top of the central bank’s target band. The closely watched trimmed mean core measure, which smooths out volatile items and is … Continue reading "Is A Rate Cut Closer Now In Australia?"

Join me for a live discussion with Crypto Advocate Adam Stokes as we explore the current state of play and what is ahead for 2025. https://www.youtube.com/@adamstokes http://www.martinnorth.com/ Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/ Find more at https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/ where you can subscribe to … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A HD Replay: Crypto: Where To Now? With Adam Stokes"

In the first show of our regular weekly run this year Edwin, our property insider and I look at the coverage of 2024, and the year ahead, and discuss where truth lays. The fact is some are changing their story as quickly as the wind blows. Why might that be? Always, we look at the … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

The gap between average prices and affordability has widened substantially, and it is unlikely things will turn around anytime soon. And rate cuts are far from certain in the short term. If you deep dive into where home prices have risen and fallen over the past year, it reinforces the need to go granular to … Continue reading "Where Property Is Falling (and Rising)… And Why…"

This is our weekly market update, starting in the US, Europe, Asia and ending in Australia, covering crypto and commodities along the way. 2024 ended up as an eventful year for markets, as many stock indices recorded sizeable double-digit gains, though with significant volatility. But the start of 2025 could well mark a shift in … Continue reading "Uncertainty Rules As Markets Face A Wicked New Year!"

The Australian dollar has fallen sharply, falling at one point to a multi-year low of 61.88 US cents — a level not seen since October, 2022. A weak Australian dollar, which was changing hands at US62.20¢ on Thursday, makes imported products such as oil more expensive, adding to domestic inflation. Whilst a weak Aussie can … Continue reading "The Low Road For The Aussie Has Real Consequences For You!"

Well, there should be no surprise that home price growth is easing, and indeed prices are falling in some places up to the end of the year, as a combination of higher for longer interest rates, broader financial pressures, reduced borrowing capacity and even easing migration are all taking their toll. This despite assurances from … Continue reading "Australian Home Prices Teeter On A High Cliff…"

In this episode we review our most viewed shows from 2024, and identify the key issues and themes which got the most attention. Interestingly there are clear connections and observations… Let me know in the comments what your favorite shows were, and what you would like me to cover this coming year. Thanks to all … Continue reading "DFA: Looking Back And Looking Forwards…"