ECONOMY

Spending picked up as Australian consumer outlook marginally improved, but is not a "cause for celebration" according to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA).

The Australian Education Union (AEU) in Tasmania will be seeking for teachers near retirement age to be offered payouts in order to open teaching opportunities for young educators.

Closer cooperation between the government, the resource industry and community is crucial in sealing a better prospect for future mining activities in New South Wales, that according to the NSW Minerals Council.

Economists and the entire retail industry may not be in favor of conservative consumer spending behavior, but the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said it is still a positive sign.

Economic productivity will get a lift with growth in infrastructure.

A telecom customers’ advocate group has called on the government to revisit Australia’s consumer protection regulations for a possible overhaul to address the telco industry’s deteriorating customer service.

The Australian work force remains pessimistic of their superannuation, a survey shows.

The latest Westpac-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) survey of industrial trends showed local manufacturing activity declined in the three months to September as global concerns and election uncertainty at home outweighed a generally favourable economic background.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said on Thursday that the country is already out of sync with the US economy and has slowly shifted its focus on the movements of the fast-expanding Chinese economy, currently the nation’s biggest trading partner and largest consumer of its natural resources.

Australian consumers expect prices to increase in September, opposing falls over the past four months, thanks to a string of strong economic data, a survey shows.

Sydney pushes forward in keeping tourists attracted even as tourism operators fear of continuing drops in visitor numbers in the months ahead.

A slight increase of 0.1 percent in skilled job vacancies was seen in September.

Consumer confidence had a surprising dip in September, according to data released today.

Margaret River producers added its voice to the snowballing opposition on the planned coal mining exploration in the area, apparently convinced that the proposal will eventually lead to the destruction of the local agricultural industry.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey puts Sydney residents as the richest in the country.

September 16 marks the sixth month that Clem7 toll tunnel in Brisbane has formally opened its road for vehicular traffic yet its operator, RiverCity Motorway Group (ASX: RCY), was not bent on celebrating the milestone for apparent reasons.

Postgraduate studies may be expensive but the return of investment is great when one returns to the workforce.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) injects vitality into the business community through its viewpoint report on urban and rural worker salaries.

Australian growers can look forward for a bountiful harvest season as the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Research Economics (ABARE) released its forecast on Tuesday which pointed to an estimated 40 million tonnes of yield that would mostly come from the rain-soaked areas of the country such as New South Wales.

Australian business sentiment returned to levels last seen in April as profits increased although sales and employment conditions weakened, data released in Sydney today show.

While Lady Gaga's meat-bikini cover on Vogue Homme Japan has been the subject of public outrage especially from animal rights advocate, fans and detractors of the pop star should quell their objection over Lady Gaga's meat dress in MTV Video Music Awards. The meat covering Lady Gaga from head-to-toe (plus a "meat purse") is apparently made of fabric.

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) meted out a three-year financial services ban on a Sydney-based stockbroker following investigations that showed he secretly obtained profits for relatives during Regional Express Holdings Ltd on-market share buyback.

Services on Western Australia’s public hospitals were poised to be disrupted on Monday as thousands of workers opted for industrial action following the state government’s decision to deny their $50 per week pay raise demand.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) of Tasmania said on Monday that the initial evaluation phase of a proposed windfarm in Robbins Island has already begun as the agency added that it is currently studying the project’s environmental and cultural impact in the area.

Bonds are making a hit on the financial market.

The August jobs report, which beat expectations on all fronts, is raising speculations that the Reserve Bank of Australia may resume hiking interest rates soon.

The Australian unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 5.1 per cent (seasonally adjusted) in August, according to official data released today.

Two recently merged bureaus tagged the mineral and energy exports during the June 2010 quarter as the second highest on record.

Ten years after the 2000 Olympics, Sydney faces the competition with Melbourne for the role of the top city in the country. GREATER Sydney Partnership founding chairman Peter Holmes a Court is getting the ball rolling for uplifting the city's appeal on people around the globe.