Weekly Digest – 27 March 2024

Weekly Digest – 27 March 2024

Welcome to our Weekly Digest – stay in the know with some recent news updates relevant to business and the economy.

Australia’s job boom sees unemployment rate fall

Australia’s unemployment rate has fallen to 3.7% in February, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), with around 116,000 people starting jobs in February.

Resilience of Australian Households and Businesses

In its latest Financial Stability Report released today, the RBA said the Australian economy is in a strong position to weather the risks coming from overseas.

Australia’s biggest chemist is merging with a giant wholesaler. Could we soon be paying more?

All eyes are on two titans of the pharmacy industry – Chemist Warehouse and Sigma Healthcare. They are poised to join forces under an A$8.8 billion deal, which could radically reshape the way Australians access medication and other health products. What could this deal by “Australia’s cheapest chemist” mean for everyday Australians and their wallets?

RBA reveals concerning number of Aussies who can’t afford their mortgage

One in every 20 mortgage holders in Australia is spending more on repayments and other living expenses than what they earn, with tens of thousands at risk of running out of savings this year, according to the Reserve Bank.

Shrinkflation: hot cross buns, chips and cereals among products being downsized for the same price, Choice report finds

Research from consumer advocacy group Choice has called out the Australian supermarket chains Woolworths and Coles for retaining or lifting prices for shrunken products.

Business leaders are worried about productivity

Leaders at The Australian Financial Review Business Summit spoke about the factors in the Australian economy that keep them up at night.

Australia tightens student visa rules as migration hits record high

Australia will begin enforcing tougher visa rules for foreign students this week as official data showed migration hit another record high, which is likely to further exacerbate an already tight rental market. From Saturday, English language requirements for student and graduate visas will be increased, while the government will get the power to suspend education providers from recruiting international students if they repeatedly break rules.

SMSFA calls on government to stop Better Targeted Superannuation Bill amendments

The SMSF Association has called on the government to stop the proposed amendments to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures) Bill 2023 and the Superannuation (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions) Imposition Bill 2023. In its submission to Treasury’s inquiry into the combined Bills, the SMSFA said the changes have been rushed and rely too heavily upon regulations.

Get in touch

Contact us if you have any questions or want to discuss the next steps for your business.

Recent Posts

The Real Cost of Bad Customer Service for Small Businesses in Launceston’s Hospitality Industry

The Real Cost of Bad Customer Service for Small Businesses in Launceston’s Hospitality Industry

Have you considered how your customer experience truly impacts your small business? Whether you’re

Read More
Why Your Small Business in Launceston Should Switch to Cloud Accounting

Why Your Small Business in Launceston Should Switch to Cloud Accounting

Running a small business in Launceston, particularly in the fast-paced hospitality industry, is dema

Read More
The Importance of Bookkeeping for Small Businesses in Launceston’s Hospitality Industry

The Importance of Bookkeeping for Small Businesses in Launceston’s Hospitality Industry

As a small business owner in Launceston, especially if you're part of the dynamic hospitality indust

Read More

Partners

Take our Financial Health Check

It’s Free and Only Takes 2 Minutes!

Are you maximising profit margins in your hospitality business? Answer 15 quick questions, and we’ll send you a personalised report to help you improve.

Our quick health check is designed to give you a better understanding of where your finances stand and provide helpful insights to guide your next steps.

FINANCIAL HEALTH CHECK

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.