-
Australia’s Consumer Confidence Edges Lower on Inflation Fears
Australia’s consumer confidence dipped in May as households expressed concern about persistent inflation potentially prompting the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates again, offsetting a boost from last week’s budget. Sentiment fell 0.3% to 82.2 points, with 100 being the dividing line between pessimists and optimists, a Westpac Banking Corp. survey showed Tuesday. The result comes after Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his annual fiscal blueprint that may be the center-left government’s last before an election. “Renewed cost-of-living pressures and inflation concerns have more than offset what looks to ... (full story)