In this issue:
This month:
- Benefits of a super long engagement
- Fostering financially savvy young adults
- Is food delivery eating into your budget?
It’s November and, as always, the month gets underway with the race that stops the nation. The Melbourne Cup is also the signal that summer, Christmas and the holiday season are just down the track.
October was an anxious month for investors as global share markets followed Wall Street’s wobble before steadying in the final days. The S&P 500 Index fell 7 per cent in October while the ASX 200 fell more than 5 per cent. There was no major reason for the falls. The US economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5 per cent in the third quarter and corporate earnings are strong. But there are ongoing concerns about the US-China trade war and rising US interest rates.
The Australian dollar finished the month 1.6 per cent lower at around US71c. This is good for trade, as is the 10 per cent rise in the iron ore price in October to US$76.50 a tonne. Local unemployment fell to a six-year low of 5 per cent in September, while inflation fell below 2 per cent. The September quarter Consumer Price Index rose just 0.4 per cent for an annual rate of 1.9 cent, down from 2.1 per cent in June. Prices of accommodation, tobacco, property rates and petrol bucked the downward trend. The national average price of unleaded fuel recently hit 160.6c a litre, the highest in a decade. But relief for motorists could be in sight as the price of Brent Crude oil fell 11 per cent in October to US$75.57 a barrel. Consumer sentiment fluctuated, with the ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating dipping 6 per cent mid-month before rebounding to 114.6, above the long-term average.
Superannuation is a long-term financial relationship. It begins with our first job, grows during our working life and hopefully supports us through our old age. The earlier you get to know your super and nurture it with additional contributions along the way, the more secure your later years will be …read more
Fostering financially savvy young adults
Most parents try to instil good money habits in their children from an early age. Eventually though children outgrow piggy banks and pocket money but the opportunities to help them navigate the world of personal finance don’t end with childhood. Here are five lessons parents might consider passing on to their offspring as they make the transition to independent, financially savvy adults …read more
Is food delivery eating into your budget?
Is food delivery eating into your budget?The Australian food delivery industry is booming, with the ABS reporting an 18% increase in take-away spending over just three years, and delivery apps such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo turning over sales of around $2.6 billion annually. But, while we all know that ordering in costs more than cooking from scratch but the numbers may still surprise you …read more
