Economists at Australian banking major ANZ are predicting that the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut the official cash rate to as low as 2 per cent by the end of next year, arguing that it may be more prudent for the government to back away from its budget surplus plans.
The economists are basing their prediction on the back of a weak Australian economy and modest gains in the global economic outlook.
The latest retail forecasts are projecting that Australians will spend approximately $32 billon over Christmas, with the average spend per person estimated to be $1200.
The forecast represents an increase over past years and is a major bonus for the retail industry which over the last few years has felt “more Grinch than Santa” according to Margy Osmand, the chief executive of the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA)
The extremely detested surcharge that consumers are hit with when paying for a cab ride using a credit or debit card is unlikely to survive into the new year if the Australian central bank has its way.
The Reserve Bank has revised the rules regarding surcharges which are effective next year, tightening the language and making it explicit that the surcharge rules also apply to the taxi industry.
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