Inflation stories
Cost-of-living pressures pushed more Australians to use Zip for bills, insurance and home maintenance, lifting spend per customer 15.4%.
Rising logistics, property and construction costs are leaving Australian companies wary of expansion as Christmas trading prospects soften.
Corporate losses from unhedged currency swings eased in Q2, even as UK and US firms cut protection to the weakest levels on record.
London's place on the list slipped as currency moves and housing costs reshaped expat budgets across 208 cities worldwide.
More than half of US consumers plan to shop before Thanksgiving as they hunt for deals, rewards and ways to stretch holiday budgets.
Rising café prices are denting demand, with Australians buying 5.9% fewer coffees in 2025 even as the average cup cost climbed to AUD $5.83.
For many owners, routine finance tasks are now eating into hiring, investment and growth plans as fragmented tools add to stress.
The shift could widen gaps in what customers pay for the same meal and sharpen scrutiny of how far the chain can steer franchisee prices.
A softer August reading may not spare borrowers, with CreditorWatch warning that broad-based price pressures still point to another RBA hike.
Employers are prioritising scarce skills and critical roles as pay rises stay broadly flat across Australia, Aon said.
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.
Australia's labour market sent mixed signals in August, but inflation worries still leave the Reserve Bank likely to lift interest rates next week.
Financial pressure is pushing households to favour flexible due dates and hardship pauses, even as most still want a live agent for billing disputes.
More than three in five bill payers want control over payment timing, as 59% lack enough savings to cover a USD $1,000 emergency.
Australian households and debt-laden firms face further borrowing-cost pressure, with CreditorWatch seeing no chance of the RBA standing pat in September.
Many Australian firms are still using owners' personal money to prop up working capital, as cash reserves and trading confidence weaken.
The review says delayed tightening helped drive inflation to 7.3 percent, forcing sharper rate rises and weighing on growth and jobs.
Residential builders face rising defaults and insolvencies as Australia's AUD $150 billion data centre pipeline squeezes labour and materials.
Businesses using credit cards are losing insurance, longer grace periods and reward value as major lenders trim perks amid card reforms.
