Author: roymorgansocial

ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations dropped to 4.5% in mid-May – down from 4.8% for the month of April

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-May-25

The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations were 4.5% for the week of 12-18 May, down 0.3% points from the month of April, following two straight weekly declines in early May. However, a look at monthly Inflation Expectations for April shows the measure at 4.8% for the month – a second consecutive monthly increase of 0.1% points from the nearly four-year low in February of 4.6%. Looking back over the last year, weekly Inflation Expectations have moved in a band of 4.2% to 5.2% since the start of May 2024, and averaged 4.8%. The data for the Inflation Expectations series is drawn from the Roy Morgan Single Source, which has interviewed an average of around 5,300 Australians aged 14+ per month over the last decade, and includes interviews with 5,129 Australians aged 14+ in April 2025.

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

New Australian free-to-air TV rules could allow alcohol ads from 10am, even on weekends and school holidays

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Original article by Amanda Meade
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 21-May-25

Free TV Australia has proposed a revised code of practice for the nation’s commercial broadcasters. Amongst other things, the industry lobby group is pushing for M-rated TV programs to be broadcast for five hours during the daytime, rather than three at present; alcohol advertisements are permitted during M-rated blocks of programming, and Free TV Australia wants there to be no restrictions on such ads during weekends and school holidays, when children are most likely to be watching TV. It also proposes retaining the current loophole that allows alcohol ads to be shown during live sports broadcasts. The Australian Communications & Media Authority is currently reviewing the proposed changes to the code, which has not been updated for about a decade.

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FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Victorian Labor enters debt-and-tax spiral

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Original article by Lily McCaffrey, Damon Johnston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 21-May-25

S&P Global analyst Rebecca Hrvatin has responded to the Victorian government’s 2025 budget by emphasising the need for fiscal discipline, particularly in the lead-up to the state election in November 2026. The budget papers show that Victoria’s net debt is forecast to rise from about $155bn at present to $194bn in 2028-29, while the state’s annual interest bill will top $10.5bn by that date. The state’s wages bill is in turn expected to blow out to $42bn in 2028-29, despite plans to shed about 1,200 full-time equivalent public sector jobs. Meanwhile, tax revenue is expected to rise to about $48bn in 2028-29, compared with $36.8bn in 2023-24; this is despite the absence of any new taxes in the budget.

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S&P GLOBAL RATINGS

King to offer first details of critical minerals stockpile

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Original article by Tom Rabe, Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 21-May-25

The federal government has emphasised that mining companies will not be required to contribute to its proposed critical minerals stockpile. Resources Minister Madeleine King is set to disclose some details about the stockpile at a mining summit today; she will argue that Australia has an obligation to take a lead on critical minerals and rare earths globally, given that China – which dominates the sector – is seeking to impose export controls on some of these minerals. King adds that the stockpile will only hold ‘small’ and ‘temporary’ volumes of critical minerals; she has also downplayed concerns that the policy will distort prices, arguing that China’s market dominance is already doing this.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 0.5pts to 88.8 in the week before the RBA met to consider interest rates

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-May-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 0.5pts to 88.8 in the week to 18 May; Consumer Confidence is now 6.8 points above the same week a year ago (82.0), and 2.4pts above the 2025 weekly average of 86.4. Analysis by State shows mixed results with Consumer Confidence rising in Queensland and South Australia, but down slightly in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Now 18% of Australians (unchanged) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 41% (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 30% (unchanged) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 30% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Now 14% (up 1ppt) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months (the highest figure for this indicator since February 2022), while 24% (down 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since February 2022). Meanwhile, 23% (up 3ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 37% (up 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Chalmers concedes energy rebates must end

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Original article by Rhiannon Down
The Australian – Page: 7 : 21-May-25

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has refused to rule out extending the federal government’s energy rebate for a third time. However, he acknowledges that the government is aware that the $6.8bn rebate must end at some stage, which is why it has been extended for just six months rather than a year. Independent economist Chris Richardson says the rebate is "bad policy" and the money should have been used to reduce the structural deficit and increase unemployment benefits. Professor Bob Breunig from the Australian National University agrees that the rebate should not be extended beyond 2025, arguing that such subsidies tend to be inflationary.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

RBA flags spectre of recession

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Original article by Matthew Cranston, Jack Quail
The Australian – Page: 1 & 7 : 21-May-25

The Reserve Bank of Australia considered reducing the cash rate by 50 basis points on Tuesday, rather than its second 25 basis point cut so far in 2025. The central bank noted in its monetary policy statement that inflation is within its target band and is expected to remain there, so it deemed that an interest rate cut was appropriate. However, the RBA cautioned that although upside risks appear to have diminished, international developments are likely to weigh on the domestic economy. The RBA has downgraded its GDP growth forecast for the year to June from two per cent to 1.8 per cent, while it has warned of an outside chance that the Trump administration’s trade war could result in a global recession.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Liberals back Nationals split as necessary reset after election lashing

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Original article by Olivia Caisley
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 21-May-25

The National Party has formally abandoned its long-standing alliance with the Liberal Party, advising that it will not renew the Coalition agreement for the upcoming term of parliament. Nationals leader David Littleproud the negotiations between the two parties broke down over a number of policy issues, including nuclear energy, expanded divestiture powers for supermarkets and a $20 billion regional future fund. Former prime minister John Howard has urged the two parties to resolve their differences and reunite; however, a number of senior Liberals believe that the split was necessary, and some contend that it should have happened long ago. The Liberals will remain the formal Opposition in Parliament, with 28 lower house seats; the National will have 15 seats and Labor will have about 94.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Nod for Santos’ Narrabri gas project

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Original article by Ryan Cropp
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 21-May-25

The National Native Title Tribunal has concluded that the Narrabri gas project in NSW is in the national interest and will have a net public benefit. The tribunal has ruled that the state government should lease land in north-western NSW to Santos for the project, which will feature up to 850 gas wells. The Narrabri project was approved by the NSW Independent Planning Commission in 2020; the National Native Title Tribunal’s subsequent decision to grant the leases in late 2022 was challenged by the traditional owners, the Gomeroi people. Santos has agreed to supply all gas from the Narrabri project to the domestic market.

CORPORATES
SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL NATIVE TITLE TRIBUNAL, NEW SOUTH WALES. INDEPENDENT PLANNING COMMISSION

Magazines matter to most Australians: over 65%, or 14.9 million, read magazines in print or online

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Apr-25

The Roy Morgan Australian Readership report for the 12 months to March 2025 shows that 11.2 million Australians aged 14+ (49.2%) now read print magazines. This market broadens significantly to more than 14.9 million Australians aged 14+ (65.4%) who read magazines in print or online either via the web or an app. Overall, seven of the top 25 most widely read magazines increased their readership over the last year. The most widely read magazine category is Food & Entertainment, with a readership of 7,175,000 (over 3 million ahead of any other category and reaching well over 30% of the population). Meanwhile, Better Homes and Gardens is still Australia’s most widely read paid magazine, with a print readership of 1,744,000; the second-placed The Australian Women’s Weekly has a print readership of 1,180,000. Australia’s two most widely read free magazines are still Coles Magazine (with a print readership of 5,245,000) and Woolworths’ Fresh Ideas (4,645,000). These are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan Single Source survey of 69,305 Australians aged 14+ in the 12 months to March.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED