Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) Blog

The elephant in the room of the upcoming dialogue on productivity is that it is mainly performative, despite the weak 0.7% estimate from the RBA as part of yesterday’s rate announcement, and the gap highlighted by recent Treasury data. The latest data on wages and lending also shines a spotlight on the issues we are … Continue reading "Have The Productivity Nuts and Bolts Bolted?"

This is an edit of a live discussion as I walk through my latest surveys, and examine the mortgage and rental stress hot spots. Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/ Find more at https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/ where you can subscribe to our research alerts … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A Replay: Households Under The Pump: Make It Stop!"

Edwin is back in full voice as we pull apart the latest property news, with a focus on Real Estate Agents. From under quoting to driving rents higher, and from dummy bidding to poor data management, agents are not necessarily working for you, so be careful! If you are buying your home in Sydney's contentious … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

Another in our series of reality checks as we look at price drops in the NSW South Coast, thanks to Cookie for the research. Yes, folks, prices are falling in places here (despite the hype). And for more, join us next Tuesday for our live deep-dive show. https://youtube.com/live/-bnD0dwxatw If you are buying your home in … Continue reading "Operation Antispruik: NSW South Coast [July 2025]"

This is our regular weekly market update, where we start in the US, cross to Europe and Asia and end in Australia, covering commodities and crypto along the way. It's a complex trading environment out there, with on one hand Trump's higher tariffs on imports from dozens of countries kicking in this week, while results … Continue reading "How High Can Markets Climb Without Altitude Sickness?"

A mega chat with Journalist Tarric Brooker, who brings along another great set of slides on the economy, and recent international trends. We go deep into the critical issues we face, and ask some important if uncomfortable questions. Who are the benefiting from the current economic and political settings? What is the data really telling … Continue reading "Bigger Government, Bigger Australia, But You Don't Get A Say! With Tarric Brooker"

Last week's the ABS released their CPI publication which showed price changes for all households living in capital cities. Now they have released a series of Living Cost Indexes shows how those price changes impact the living costs of different types of households know as Selected Living Cost Indexes (SLCIs). The Selected Living Costs are … Continue reading "Costs Of Living Are Up: But How Much?"

This is my edit of a regular monthly chat with Nuggets News about the latest economic and market data. Today we look at the latest on tariffs, AI and monetary policy, and look at the impact on markets and home prices. We also touch on the latest in Digital ID and CBDC. http://www.martinnorth.com/ Details of … Continue reading "Economic Update: July/Aug 2025"

Yes, Edwin is back as we kick around the latest property data and the “you can’t make this s*it up” segment. Plus some case studies of what can go wrong, and why we need to get the right data to make property decisions. If you are buying your home in Sydney's contentious market, you do … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Wednesday Evening Property Rant!"

This is an edit of a live discussion with Head of Investment Damien Klassen as we examine the latest from the markets, and consider how this plays out, and how investment strategies should respond. Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/ Find more … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A HD Replay: Are Markets At A Wobbly Top, Or Is There More To Go? With Damien Klassen"

As Edwin remains indisposed, tonight I walk through some of the new data on property across the country, as the Government lifts the number of students for next years (yes, really), home prices we are told are rising fast, and credit growth is running faster than inflation or wages growth. As a result, affordability is … Continue reading "Half A Monday Evening Property Rant!"

Joe Wilkes and I dig deeper into the rabbit hole of corruption and digital control, and ask who is really in charge? http://www.martinnorth.com/ Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

This is our latest market update, where we start in the US, cross to Europe and Asia and end in Australia, and cover commodities and crypto along the way. Global markets were floored from recent highs on Friday by a powerful one-two punch from the latest U.S. employment data and U.S. tariffs slapped on dozens … Continue reading "Markets Caught Between Trade War Down Draft And AI Hype; Look Out Below!"

This is the latest in our occasional series, where thanks to Cookie Boy, we do a deep dive into recent property price reductions, and add in my latest survey and property price trend information to go granular into the area. Where have prices been rising, and by how much, and are vendors being greedy? Really … Continue reading "Operation Antispruik: Far North Queensland [July 2025]"

Yesterdays Fed decision to hold their cash rate, despite two dissenters on the FOMC, Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman (both Trump appointees), voting 9-2 to hold its benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 4.25%-4.5% was an interesting object lesson in the two Americas, one based on the current data showing balanced employment … Continue reading "Fed Stands Pat; Waiting For Data But Becoming Obsolete?"

Today we got the latest from the ABS on their inflation series, with Australia's core inflation cooling in the three months through June as the closely-watched trimmed mean gauge of consumer prices, which shaves off volatile items, advanced 0.6% in the second quarter from three months earlier, weaker than the 0.7% forecast, data from the … Continue reading "The Meaninglessness Of Our Inflation Data!"

This is an edit of a live discussion with Crypto evangelist Adam Stokes as we explore its growth, and potential risks and opportunities. Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

Although Edwin is still unwell, (get well soon, sir) in my rant tonight I walk through some of the recent items which came across my desk, thanks to Cookie, from productivity, government spending, property prices, and potential tax rises. We also look at a recent article which argues the next financial crisis will be crypto … Continue reading "Half A Monday Evening Property Rant!"

I caught up with friend of the channel Joe Wilkes. Whats going on with property in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, and what forces are in play? http://www.martinnorth.com/ Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

This is our weekly market update, where we start in the US, cross to Europe and Asia and end in Australia, covering commodities and crypto along the way. A seven-day global stock rally slowed down in Asia on Friday as uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rate cuts made investors more cautious though … Continue reading "The Mother Of All Bubbles Continues…"

I want to go a bit philosophical today because this past week I made shows about How To Fix Australia Before Its Too Late, and Pop Goes The Property Weasel. Underpinning these important discussions is one simple point, which is that we are living in the shadow of a failed set of policies known as … Continue reading "Neoliberalism: The Seeds Of Our Own Destruction!"

It was a busy day at the RBA on Thursday, as their July 2025 Bulletin was released, including important analysis on how International Students impact the Australian economy (and housing); and also Michele Bullock speaking at the Anika Foundation fundraising lunch warned that the Reserve Bank of Australia's preferred measure of underlying inflation may not … Continue reading "The RBA's Messy Day And Why Rate Cuts Might Be Delayed – Again!"

The current economic structure in Australia is failing to deliver better living standards for Australians. Despite the slightly stronger wages growth seen recently, overall productivity continues to languish. So when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told business people this month he wants the private sector to resume its rightful place as the primary source of growth … Continue reading "Ever Bigger Government Is Not The Answer…!"

This is an edit of a live discussion with Chief Economist Leith van Onselen, co-founder of Macrobusiness as we probe the latest economic data and the apparent next leg up in property prices. Original show with chat here: https://youtube.com/live/JC7GsdI6Afw Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A Replay: Pop Goes The Property Weasel! With Leith van Onselen"

More evidence today that New Zealand is on a different economic path to Australia. Today we got the CPI inflation data which showed that New Zealand inflation lifted further in Q2 to 2.7%. This mean that inflation is already at the peak the Reserve Bank had forecast in its May monetary policy statement. This confirms … Continue reading "Lessons, As Kiwis See Inflation Up, But Home Prices Down!"

No Property Rant tonight as Edwin has lost his voice (hopefully we will record later in the week) but this gives me the chance to share my edit of a recent show I recorded with Nuggets News, where we went deep into what needs to be done to fix Australia. We covered issues from housing … Continue reading "How To Fix Australia… (Before Its Too Late)"

Another deep dive into property data, this time centred around Melbourne suburbs. Thanks to Cookie for his research! http://www.martinnorth.com/ Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/ Find more at https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/ where you can subscribe to our research alerts Please consider supporting our work … Continue reading "Operation Antispruik: Melbourne Suburban Houses (July 2025)"

This is our weekly market update, where we start in the US, cross to Europe and Asia and end in Australia, covering crypto and commodities along the way. Overall, Wall Street and most global benchmark indices rose on the week, as upbeat U.S. economic data more than compensated for the heightened trade uncertainty and Trump … Continue reading "Choppy Event Filled Trading Drives Markets To New Peaks Again!"

I am joined by Tarric Brooker, journalist, and now member of the Macrobusiness team, to pick over the latest data and charts. In this show we cover the deficit on real data, the demographic shifts in Australia and China, and the latest concerning economic indicators. Specifically, what this tells us about the future, and its … Continue reading "Its All Over! [Full Stop] With Tarric Brooker…"

There is a lot of kerfuffle about the latest employment statistics released today by the ABS as Australian unemployment unexpectedly climbed to a four-year high in June because hiring almost stalled. This might suggest a loosening of the labor market and bolsters the case for the Reserve Bank to reduce interest rates next month. Certainly … Continue reading "Unemployment Up in June, But How Broken Is The ABS Data Compass?"

Electronic payments have taken over the lions share of transactions across Australia though around 15% of transactions are still cash, and its remaining a critical choice for people. But the dirty secret is that these electronic payments channels are costing people, via undisclosed or only partially disclosed fees. Once again, the financial sector players are … Continue reading "Who Pays For Card Payments? You Pay Of Course!"

This is an edit of a live discussion with Research Director from the Australian Citizens Party, Robbie Barwick, as we examine the latest on trade, tariffs, AUKUS, and Corporate Australia as we ask whose side should we be on, and what are the economic, social and political decisions which have been taken, and need to … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A Replay: Whose Poodle Are We Anyway? With Robbie Barwick"

This week, a deep dive into the property management sector, and more on the problem with property data which distorts the truth. Plus what the China visit is really about. http://www.martinnorth.com/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/ Find more at https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/ where you can subscribe to our research alerts Today’s post is … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

Once again, we are off to the races with preliminary auction clearance rates being spruiked to high heaven again over the weekend. As I discussed recently, these numbers are misleading because they rely on reported results, which are biased towards successful outcomes, while avoiding the gap between listed and reported results. Take Domain for example, … Continue reading "Property Gaslighting Continues In Spades…"

This is our weekly market update where we start in the US, cross to Europe and Asia and end in Australia, covering commodities and crypto along the way. Investors are aggressively buying into riskier assets, sending bitcoin and companies focused on artificial intelligence to new highs as they shrug off months of uncertainty caused by … Continue reading "Tariff Noose Tightens Even As Investors Buy Riskier Assets… But…"

Today we look at the latest from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand where rates were held, though following cuts of 2.25%, compared with the RBA 0.5%. Uncertainly remains the watchword. So we reflect on the different inflation track, and look at rental inflation in particular, in the light of the latest Domain data showing … Continue reading "Central Banks In Wonderland: As RBNZ Holds Too!"

Yesterday as I discussed in my live show, the RBA held the cash rate at 3.85%, which surprised almost all economists, the media, and Labor politicians alike. If you listen to Michelle Bullock, at the press conference, she was careful to talk about, caution, waiting for more data because the monthly inflation stats are volatile, … Continue reading "“Kersplat”: The Collision Between Economics And Politics!"

This is an edit of a live discussion as I walk though the latest analysis from our household surveys, and go granular in terms of the impact of rate cuts, mortgage and rental stress, and the potential trajectory of home prices. I will have the post code engine on line. Details of our one to … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A Replay: Rate Cuts, Home Prices And Financial Stress: Granular Deep Dive"

In this week’s Property Rant, we discuss wolves in sheep’s clothing, as we ask who is really paying the bills, and who are the property winners and losers? We also delve into our “Pavlova” apartments, and highlight the latest property BS, in which we seem to be drowning at the moment! http://www.martinnorth.com/ Go to the … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

The truth is that the current Government approach to housing which is based on building 1.2 million new homes over a 5-year period won't be met. As I reported recently the running total is 60,000 homes below what would be required to meet the target. But worse, the strategy is driving the states to permit … Continue reading "The Strata Nightmare Continues…"

This is our weekly market update where we start in the US, cross to Europe and Asia and end in Australia, covering commodities and crypto along the way. US markets were closed on Friday thanks to the July 4 Independence Day celebrations. Both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite closed at record highs on Thursday … Continue reading "As Markets Melt Upwards, Are Things Falling Apart?"

Two years ago Investment Manager Tony Locantro had a radical change of direction in terms of life-style and diet. On this second anniversary I caught up with him to reflect on his journey, and discussed the broader questions of the deadly embrace of big-pharma and big-food and how this is causing harm, and what we … Continue reading "Tony Locantro's Two Year Carniversary!"

We review the latest data, including from the DFA Household Surveys to consider what may happen next to property across the country. Its complicated, with supply, demand and Government policy drivers messing with the markets. Granularity is important, as is filtering the high-level spruiking. In some areas prices are continuing to fall or go sideways. … Continue reading "How Will The Current Property Mess Play Out?"

New Zealand had been an anomaly for some time in that in had introduced the clearest Deposit Bail-in scheme in the world, via the Open Banking Resolution (OBR) which in the case of a bank failure, OBR allows a portion of depositors’ funds to be temporarily frozen and used to recapitalize the bank, while the … Continue reading "Finally, Kiwis Get Some Deposit Protection!"

This is an edit of a live discussion with Head of Investments Damien Klassen, as we parse the latest from the markets. We are looking at all time highs again, but what does this really signify. Details of our one to one service are here: https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/ … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A Replay: Investing Now: More All Time Highs Ahead? With Damien Klassen"

A deep dive this week into the drivers of property prices, and who is to blame for the rising inter-generation tensions, as Edwin Almeida and I discuss the latest trends across the Australian property market. http://www.martinnorth.com/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/ Find more at https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/ where you can subscribe to our … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

OK, I am done with taking the Saturday releases from the likes of Domain and Cotality as anything meaningful. To illustrate the point, the latest in the AFR cities Cotality data claiming the national auction clearance rate has risen to its highest level in a year after two interest rate cuts and the possibility of … Continue reading "Calling Out The Auction Clearance BS Again!"

This is our weekly market update, where we start in the US, cross to Europe and Asia and end in Australia covering commodities and crypto along the way. Well, it's been another extraordinary week, as the MSCI Global Index hit a new all time, along with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Investors hope the US … Continue reading "“Nothing Ever Happens” As Markets Reach All Time Highs (Again!)"

Sometimes I think I live in a parallel world compared with the state and federal politicians who combined seem intent on driving more households into oblivion, in attempt to keep those home prices pumping higher. This despite the obvious disconnect between prices and affordability, and the link between inflated money supply via debt, and home … Continue reading "Fibs, Bribes, And Plain Stupidity Hooks More First Time Buyers…"

There are growing concerns that we may be in the late stages of a global asset bubble—though whether it’s a full-blown bubble or just elevated valuations depends on who you ask and which asset class you’re looking at. So we look at the latest data, and talk to Harry Dent, the famous author and economist, … Continue reading "Inside The Impossible Everything Bubble!"

This is an edited version of a live discussion with Veronica Morgan, as we explore the highs and lows of Buyers Agents, with the help of some case studies and questions. How do you pick a good one? Can you trust them? Can they help, or hinder? Veronica Morgan is the Founder and Principal of … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A HD Replay: A Hitchhikers Guide To Buyers Agents: With Veronica Morgan"