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National Australia Bank chief executive Ross McEwan has welcoming the deal struck by National Cabinet to ease the housing supply crisis. Mr McEwan is on the road on northern NSW where he says businesses are struggling to attract workers because there's not enough rental accommodation. Ross McEwan speaks with ABC's Peter Ryan. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Ross McEwan...

There are growing concerns about the health of China's economy amid almost daily evidence that a deep downturn is underway. The worries have been exacerbated by a decision by authorities in Beijing to stop releasing data on youth unemployment after months of skyrocketing increases.

ASIC cracks down on insurers; Amazon Australia country manager Janet Menzies on consumer trends by Peter Ryan

Corporate regulator ASIC has told Australia's biggest insurance companies to lift their game on the handling and assessment of claims. The shot across the bows comes as consumers face surging premiums from extreme weather events. Also a survey by Amazon Australia says cost of living pressures are forcing consumers back into traditional stores as they shop around comparing with online offers to get...

The Reserve Bank board has warned another interest rate rise is possible this year if inflation remains stubbornly high and fails to slow in line with forecasts. But in decidedly dovish minutes from the RBA's most recent meeting, it's now increasingly clear the pain from the 12 rate rises since May last year is working to slow the economy and cool inflation. Peter Ryan reports from RBA headquarter...

There are growing signs that consumers are pulling back under the weight of Reserve Bank interest rate rises and the surging cost of living. The chief executive of the electronics retail JB Hi FI has told AM there's "heightened uncertainty" with a new survey showing consumer spending is in "outright decline" in Australia's two biggest states. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Feat...

Throughout the pandemic, demand for high speed interest went through the roof as Australians were ordered to work from home. But now - as more people creep back to the office - the demand is still there with baked-in expectations from consumers and businesses for high speed bandwidth. The ABC's senior business correspondent Peter Ryan has been speaking with the chief executive of the National Broa...

Regrets - I've had a few. Philip Lowe says he wishes he understood the pandemic better. by Peter Ryan

Outgoing Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has warned inflation remains a major risk, repeating the Board will do "what it takes" to rein it in. Mr Lowe also noted household pain from surging interest rates and concerns that consumer spending could slow more than forecast. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Philip Lowe, Reserve Bank governor

Philip Lowe will face his final parliamentary grilling as Reserve Bank governor later today. Mr Lowe's troubled term comes to an end next month after a review into the central bank recommended an overhaul. Mr Lowe's departure is against a backdrop of public anger from twelve interest rate rises since May last year. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Warren Hogan, economic...

In more evidence rock road to a renewables transition, energy giant AGL has posted a full year loss of $1.26 billion. Much of that is from the accelerated closure of AGL's coal-fired plants and the massive costs decarbonising and building renewable sources. AGL chief executive Damien Nicks speaks with ABC's Peter Ryan. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Damien Nicks, CEO,...

There's a growing debate about whether high levels of migration need to be controlled to ease the housing supply crisis gripping the nation. But Australia's biggest business lobby group has launched a major pushback - saying the migrant intake shouldn't be the scapegoat and that year's of poor policy from successive government is to blame.

There's growing debate about whether high levels of migration need to be controlled to ease the housing supply crisis gripping the nation. But the Business Council of Australia has launched a major pushback saying the migrant intake shouldn't be the scapegoat and that years of poor policy from successive government is to blame. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Stephen S...

The Commonwealth Bank has posted a record profit of $10.2 billion, up 5 per cent on last financial year. Chief executive Matt Comyn flagged "downside risks", concedes customers are hurting from surging mortgage repayments. Mr Comyn speaks with ABC's Peter Ryan. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Matt Comyn, chief executive, Commonwealth Bank Keywords: podcast,

Commonwealth Bank in $10.2b profit as economic slowdown fears grow. I speak with CEO Matt Comyn. by Peter Ryan

Concerns about artificial intelligence and Chat GPT has global IT companies contemplating a blanket ban on the technology in workplaces. Security firm Blackberry has surveyed 2,000 companies and 93pc of those polled in Australia have either implemented a ban or contemplating one fearing cyberattacks and security breaches. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Jonathan Jackso...

Australia's economy remains remarkably resilient despite the impact aggressive interest interest rate rises. But consumer spending continues to sag with a survey showing the sector is in "deeply pessimistic territory". Deloitte Access Economic predicts the construction boom will deflate in 2024 as the economy slows. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Stephen Smith, partne...

Despite all the challenges thrown up during the pandemic and now the fallout from surging interest rates, construction in Australia continues to boom. But how long can that last as the impact from those rate rises looks likely to crunch the economy by the end of the year? A report by Deloitte Access Economics tips investment will slow sharply in 2024/25.

Title: Big 4 crackdown could see fines of $780m Caption: The fallout over the tax leak scandal at PWC is now engulfing all of the Big Four consulting firms which face massive fines if they promote dodgy schemes that exploit loopholes. The crackdown will also change secrecy laws which currently prevent the Tax Office from alerting police and regulators when unlawful activity is uncovered. Reporter:...

The fallout over the tax leak scandal at PWC is now engulfing all of the Big Four consulting firms which face massive fines if they promote dodgy schemes that exploit legal loopholes. The crackdown will also change secrecy laws which currently prevent the Tax Office from alerting police and regulators when unlawful activity is uncovered. But is the action enough to sideline calls for a Royal Commi...

Reserve Bank maintains rates freeze. So is the hiking cycle over? by Peter Ryan

The Reserve Bank looks likely to maintain a long interest rates freeze and holding the cash rate at 4.1pc yesterday. But some economists think incoming RBA governor Michele Bullock might be forced to hike again if inflation flares up again. Reporter: Senior Business Correspondent Peter Ryan Featured: Stephen Koukoulas, economist

The Reserve Bank board has defied a slim majority of market economists by continuing the cash rate freeze at 4.1pc. The question now is whether this is the end the RBA's aggressive hiking cycle.

Later today, the board of the Reserve Bank will reveal whether we've seen the last of it's aggresssive interest rate rises that have been smashing households. Expectations are that the "pause" delivered in July will continue .. the RBA board satisified that inflation has peaked and is now steadily falling. But will the good news be enough to prevent one major two more rate hikes?

Will they or won't they? That's the question confronting rate-hike weary borrowers as the Reserve Bank considers whether to continue the rates "freeze" at tomorrow's critical board meeting. But even if inflation is slowing and retail sales have gone negative .. that might not be enough for the RBA to hold back from one more rate rise.