International Reading:
- Survey: 43% of Americans Don’t Have Savings to Pay for a $1,000 Emergency – US News
- Employers announce most job cuts since 2009 as economy wobbles – USA Today
- Warren to call for reversal of Trump’s UAE chip sales after ‘Spy Sheikh’ revelations – CNBC
- Trump is giving the U.S. economy a $65 billion tax-refund shot in the arm, mostly for higher-income people, BofA says – Fortune
- Last month was the worst January for job cut announcements since 2009 – CNN
- Trump disapproval on economy hits new high: Survey – The Hill
- Layoffs in January were the highest to start a year since 2009, Challenger says – CNBC
- Majority Say Economy Worse Off Under Trump Than Biden – News Week
- Layoffs in January were the highest to start a year since 2009, Challenger says – CNBC
- “Immigrants are subsidizing the U.S. government”: how the undocumented actually shrank the deficit by $14.5 trillion over 3 decades – Fortune
- How can Britain regain its manufacturing power? Start thinking like a developing country – The Guardian
- Morgan Stanley Recommends a ‘Safer’ Investment Play Than Picking the Winner in AI – Capital Daily
- How Trump Is Debasing the Dollar and Eroding U.S. Economic Dominance – New Yorker
Local Reading:
- A functional opposition is a key part of a healthy democracy, and right now there isn’t one – The Nightly
- Perth Invasion Day rally attempted bombing declared terrorist act – ABC
- Why did it take 9 days to declare the Perth bombing attempt a terrorist attack? – The Conversation
- ATO debt continues to drive record level of calls to financial helpline – ABC
- ationals issue Ley with reunion counteroffer as deadline looms – ABC
- Two months since the social media ban began and teens say it isn’t working – ABC
- Not delivering any Aukus nuclear submarines to Australia explored as option in US congressional report – The Guardian
- Living costs rise for all but those on government payments hit hardest – ABC
- Melbourne lord mayor warns government AI data centres could ‘cook the planet’ – ABC
- Hipkins and Luxon are catastrophically unprepared to govern in 2026 – Interest.co.nz
- Residential property investors top $100 bln mortgage mark in what was a surprisingly busy year for them – Interest.co.nz
- National average dwelling value down 0.1% in January – Interest.co.nz
- Our ‘doubly bad’ GDP data – Interest.co.nz
MB Media Appearances:
This interview with ABC Radio Brisbane unpacks Tuesday’s 25 bp rate hike by the RBA and its assumption that rates could rise two more times amid stubbornly high trimmed mean inflation.
Last weekend’s Treasury of Common Sense on Radio 2GB/4BC explained Australia’s soaring demand for energy and why the federal government’s abandonment of baseload power for intermittent renewable sources will create scarcity and drive up prices. I also praise former Labor MP and ACTU President Jennie George for pushing back against the government’s energy policies.
This interview with James McPherson at Sky News discusses the drivers of the latest inflation surge and what it means for interest rates.
I also explain Australia’s coming energy Hunger Games.
This Treasury of Common Sense on Radio 2GB/4BC unpacks the latest inflation data and the drivers, why interest rates are likely to rise, and why they won’t tame inflation.
This podcast with Catherine Cashmore from Land Cycle Investor unpacks the latest inflation data and what it means for interest rates and the housing market. I also unpack Australia’s energy policy failures, which are adding to the nation’s inflation, cost of living, and productivity woes.
This interview with Danica DeGiorgio from Sky News unpacks the latest inflation data, which is being fueled in part by wasteful government spending.
This interview with Andrew Bolt from Sky News unpacks the latest rental data from Cotality and its impact on inflation.
This interview with Radio 4BC’s Jason Matthews explains why the RBA has just lifted the official cash rate by 0.25%, which will add around $110 per month to the average-sized new mortgage.
