How Can Commercial Property Investors Make Any Sense of the Retail Scene?

Posted on 29. Nov, 2011 by Chris Lang.

Many shoppers still remain hesitant, despite the RBA's recent interest rate reduction. Although, with household savings at record levels ... people may simply be holding back on their main splurge splurge until the post-Christmas sales.

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Will the RBA Cut Rates Again?

Posted on 03. Nov, 2011 by Chris Lang.

The RBA had been considerable political pressure by the Treasurer to cut interest rates this week. And retailers were virtually pleading with the it to do so.

Plus, homeowners were also looking for some relief in the run up to Christmas.

However, this is probably the last time the RBA will lower interest rates for quite some time.

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Interest Rates Are NOT About to Fall

Posted on 15. Sep, 2011 by Chris Lang.

All the talk about the RBA needing to slash interest rates seems to be emerging from a relatively small section of our community.

Retailers and manufacturers probably feel they are going through a recession; and housing is currently moving sideways.

However, you need to look a little deeper than this — because these three sectors account for only 20% of the economy.

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Why All The Panic?

Posted on 16. Aug, 2011 by Chris Lang.

Well, not here in Australia anyway! And even overseas, things are vastly different this time around.

In 2008/09, it was private debt causing the problems ... because nobody was too sure which banks were overly exposed to the sub-prime mortgage problem.

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OK ... What's Going On?

Posted on 07. Jul, 2011 by Chris Lang.

According to the IMF ... in spite of all the recent turmoil, the outlook for global economic growth appears quite rosy moving into the new financial year.

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RBA Reprieve ...
But don't be Fooled

Posted on 09. Jun, 2011 by Chris Lang.

Australia's GDP will surge back during the June quarter — to make a further rate rise in July almost inevitable.

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The RBA Keeps Its Powder Dry

Posted on 04. May, 2011 by Chris Lang.

The RBA has displayed a bias towards pre-emptive action. And there is no reason to suggest it would suddenly change that approach.

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Rates on Hold ... For Now!

Posted on 05. Apr, 2011 by Chris Lang.

Yesterday, the Reserve Bank left the cash rate unchanged at 4.75%. And these graphs will help to explain the current dilemma.

For the time being, the RBA's focus is upon "inflation excluding volatile items" — in part caused by the various natural disasters, both here and overseas.

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The Spectre of
Rising Interest Rates

Posted on 08. Feb, 2011 by Chris Lang.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is not seeing the Australian flood disasters as having a prolonged effect upon the national economy.

It certainly expects the March quarter GDP to decline by 0.5%. But it is then projecting a 4.25% surge, over the remainder of this year.

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September Growth Figures
Just a Pothole in the Road

Posted on 08. Dec, 2010 by Chris Lang.

Relax, it hasn't all come to an end. Sure, the Australian economy may have grown by only 0.2% in the September quarter. And retail sales might have actually fallen by 1.1% for October. However, the overwhelming consensus is that this is merely an aberration. And the underlying growth projections remain very favourable — with the [...]

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Most Economists Agree ...

Posted on 24. Nov, 2010 by Chris Lang.

Which, when you think about it, is quite an achievement in itself! About a fortnight ago,Treasurer Wayne Swan was crowing about the Labor government's achievements during his Mid-Year Outlook.

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