Author: roymorgansocial

‘Not confident’: RBA pours cold water on Labor’s housing dream

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Oct-25

The Reserve Bank of Australia had been widely tipped to leave the cash rate unchanged at its monetary policy board meeting yesterday. Financial markets have priced in a 40 per cent chance of a rate cut at the next meeting in November, but RBA governor Michele Bullock says progress on returning core inflation to its mid-point target of 2.5 per cent will determine the next move on interest rates. Quarterly inflation data to be released ahead of the next board meeting is likely to be crucial. Meanwhile, Bullock has warned that federal government action to boost supply is unlikely to address the housing market’s structural deficit in the next two years.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

First Brands and Tricolor’s collapses are signs of what’s to come

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Paul J. Davies
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 1-Oct-25

US-based automobile loan specialist Tricolor Holdings recently filed for bankruptcy liquidation amid fraud allegations. Tricolor focused on subprime, often undocumented borrowers, and its collapses raises questions about the financial pressures on lower-income households and the economic impact of the Trump administration’s deportation drive. Meanwhile, car-parts supplier First Brands Group has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. First Brands is a privately-owned business that was built via debt-funded acquisitions and undermined by further borrowing secured against inventory and payments due from customers. Its collapse could turn out to be a ‘canary in the coal mine’ for aggressively leveraged buyouts and private credit lenders, especially in sectors where tariffs have resulted in big cost increases.

CORPORATES
TRICOLOR HOLDINGS, FIRST BRANDS GROUP

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 1.7pts to 86.3 before this week’s Reserve Bank meeting

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Oct-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 1.7pts to 86.3 in the week to 28 September. Consumer Confidence is now 4.3 points above the same week a year ago (82.0), and just 0.5pts below the 2025 weekly average of 86.8. Analysis by State shows a broad trend, with Consumer Confidence reversing the results of last week and increasing in the four largest States of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, but down in South Australia. Now 22% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 42% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 29% (up 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 33% (up 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, just 10% (up 2ppts) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 29% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Only 23% (up 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 33% (down 1ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Sydney and Brisbane CBD workers surge while Melbourne struggles to regain pre-pandemic heights

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Oct-25

Roy Morgan research reveals that Australia’s central business district workforces have seen strong long-term growth over the past two decades, with most CBDs now surpassing their pre-pandemic peaks. Just 974,000 Australians worked in CBDs in 2003-04. Since then, the total has more than doubled to a record 2.2 million in 2024-25, driven largely by Australia’s population growth. Melbourne’s CBD workforce expanded significantly over the past two decades, more than doubling from 246,000 in 2003-04 to 614,000 in 2019-20. However, the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on Melbourne compared with other capitals. Worker numbers declined by nearly 100,000 within two years, reaching 519,000 in 2021-22, largely due to extended lockdowns and slower office re-entry. The workforce has since recovered to 577,000 but remains 37,000 below the pre-pandemic peak. Meanwhile, Sydney’s CBD workforce has surged from 283,000 workers in 2003-04 to 670,000 in 2024-25, rebounding strongly after a small pandemic dip and cementing its position as Australia’s largest CBD workforce. Brisbane’s CBD workforce has more than doubled, from 125,000 to 320,000, with rapid post-pandemic growth.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Peace Inc: Trump’s audacious Gaza start-up

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Joe Kelly, Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 1-Oct-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the Trump administration’s proposed 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, and urged Hamas to accept it. US President Donald Trump said the deal will bring "eternal peace to the Middle East", but warned that Israel will have his "full backing" to finish the job of destroying Hamas if the terrorist group does not agree to the peace plan. Hamas negotiators have indicated that they are willing to study the plan "in good faith" and provide a response. Amongst other things, Hamas would be required to release its remaining hostages within 72 hours and lay down its weapons, while there would be a phased withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza. A ‘Board of Peace’ would be established to oversee the administration of Gaza; it would be chaired by Trump.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Media merger to counter big tech

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Madden
The Australian – Page: 13 & 19 : 1-Oct-25

The proposed merger between Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media Group is forecast to generate annual pre-tax cost synergies of up to $30m. The merger will combine Seven’s linear TV and digital broadcast platforms with Southern Cross’s radio stations; Seven also owns print and digital newspapers. Seven West’s shareholders are expected to vote on the deal later this year or in early 2026; if approved, Southern Cross will emerge with a 50.1 per cent stake in the combined entity. Seven’s CEO Jeff Howard will take on the role in the merged group, while Seven chairman Kerry Stokes will step down in favour of Southern Cross counterpart Heith Mackay-Cruise. Southern Cross CEO John Kelly has indicated that he has also held merger talks with Nine Entertainment in recent months.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

BHP stays silent on China’s iron ore ban

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 15 : 1-Oct-25

State-run iron ore trader China Mineral Resources Group is said to have imposed a temporary ban on BHP’s shipments of the steel input due to an ongoing dispute over the renewal of long-term supply contracts. The dispute began in mid-September, when CMRG instructed steel mills not to accept delivery of a BHP product known as Jimblebar blend fines or to buy such shipments on the spot market; the ban has now been extended to all BHP iron ore shipments, according to Bloomberg. CMRG was established in 2022 to improve China’s ability to negotiate with iron ore miners, and it now represents more than half of China’s steelmakers in contract discussions. BHP has declined to comment on the import ban.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, CHINA MINERAL RESOURCES GROUP COMPANY LIMITED

More men are using skincare; up over 20% compared to five years ago

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Oct-25

New data from Roy Morgan shows that there was 20.7% growth in male skincare routines over the five years to June 2025, making male self-care more prominent than ever. In total, 14.4 million Australians aged 14+ said they have used skincare products in the 12 months to June 2025, compared to 13 million in the year to June 2021; this is an increase of over 1 million Australians (10.1% growth) over the past five years. Some 43.4% of men now use skincare products, up from 40.5% five years ago; the number of women who use skincare products has fallen to 81.5%, down from 82.5% five years ago. Meanwhile, the number of Australians who now have a skincare routine has grown from 7,671,000 to 8,649,000; this is a rise of 979,000 (12.8% growth over the last five years). While more people are reporting to have a skincare routine, the number of those who do is growing at a faster rate; with the gap between the two groups widening.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

NRL Grand Finalists the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm are the most widely supported NRL clubs in 2025

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Oct-25

The latest data from Roy Morgan shows that the Brisbane Broncos are Australia’s most widely supported NRL club for a second straight year, with 1,271,000 supporters. In a clear second place are the Broncos’ 2025 Grand Final opponent, the Melbourne Storm with 1,149,000 supporters, an increase of 31,000 (+2.8%) on a year ago. The most widely supported Sydney-based club is the Sydney Roosters with 502,000 supporters, following an increase of 28,000 (+5.9%) on a year ago. Amongst the Sydney-based NRL clubs in second place is the Parramatta Eels with 433,000 supporters, ahead of the South Sydney Rabbitohs with 403,000 supporters. Meanwhile, 6.3 million Australians (27.7% of Australians aged 14+) now watch the NRL on TV, up 392,000 (+6.6%) on four years ago.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, BRISBANE BRONCOS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED, MELBOURNE STORM RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB LIMITED, SYDNEY ROOSTERS RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL, PARRAMATTA EELS, SOUTH SYDNEY RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB

Risk of mortgage stress remains high despite interest rate cut in mid-August

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Oct-25

New research from Roy Morgan shows that 27.9% of mortgage holders were ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage stress’ in the three months to August 2025, down only 0.5% points from June. The share of mortgage holders ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage stress’ has been above 25% since February 2023, despite three interest rate cuts so far this year. The number of Australians ‘At Risk’ of mortgage stress has increased by 616,000 since May 2022, when the RBA began a cycle of interest rate increases. Meanwhile, the number of Australians considered ‘Extremely At Risk’ of mortgage stress is now numbered at 915,000 (17.9% of mortgage holders), which is significantly above the long-term average over the last 10 years of 14.8%. These are the latest findings from Roy Morgan’s Single Source Survey, based on in-depth interviews conducted with over 60,000 Australians each year, including over 10,000 owner-occupied mortgage-holders.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED