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Residents of Tehran look on as flames and smoke rise from an oil storage facility struck by Israeli troops.

What do war, interest rate rises and oil at $200 a barrel mean? A recession

Economists are predicting two more rate rises in the next eight weeks. But with oil prices climbing, it could also mean an Australian recession.

  • Shane Wright

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Home loan rates are forecast to rise after the Reserve Bank meets next week.

Rate hike forecasts surge one week out from RBA meeting

Three of the country’s biggest banks have predicted the Reserve Bank will jack up interest rates in response to ongoing high inflation and the oil price shock.

  • Clancy Yeates
RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser has signalled the bank will debate an interest rate rise at its meeting next week.

Chances of interest rate pain grow on inflation threat

The Reserve Bank’s deputy governor has warned a rate rise as soon as next week may be needed to keep inflation pressures under control.

  • Shane Wright
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as War Secretary Pete Hegseth listens while travelling aboard Air Force One to Miami on the weekend.

War is over soon? Markets’ faith in Donald Trump is misplaced

Donald Trump and his War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, have given conflicting accounts of the state of the war in Iran. Who is right matters for markets and economies.

  • Stephen Bartholomeusz
Fire and smoke rise into the sky after an Israeli attack on the Shahran oil depot in Tehran on Sunday. Oil prices across the globe are expected to climb even further if the war drags on.

Inflation set to climb to three-year highs as oil surges

Prices have climbed at their fastest rate since the 1980s and for every dollar increase in the price of crude, bowser prices lift by a cent.

  • Shane Wright
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz From February 27 to March 4.

How an oil lifeline became a clogged artery: the Strait of Hormuz

Millions of barrels of oil moved through the Strait of Hormuz every day – until the war in Iran started. Now its role in global inflation is under the microscope.

  • Shane Wright
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Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Sorry folks, this rosy report is as good as it gets this year

Spending, especially among the states, is also growing on everyday services including health, education and policing.

  • Shane Wright
A man has died onboard an Emirates flight overnight.

How the Iran war will impact inflation, your overseas holiday – even your morning toast

Just like his tariffs, Donald Trump’s mixed messages on the conflict with Iran will mean upheaval for Australia’s economy.

  • Shane Wright
RBA chief economist Sarah Hunter has revealed higher interest rates would have led to near 200,000 spike in the number of unemployed Australians.

RBA reveals the number of Australians who’d be out of work if it just focused on lowering inflation

Critics have argued inflation would be lower if interest rates had gone higher. The Reserve Bank has an answer to those critics – much higher unemployment.

  • Shane Wright
There are calls rules around bank lending to investors be tightened to take heat out of the property market and reduce pressure on the Reserve Bank to lift interest rates.

How property investors are adding to interest rate pressure

The nation’s banking regulator is under pressure to clamp down on loans to investors, amid claims they have contributed to higher interest rates.

  • Shane Wright