“Government, it’s time to make some TOUGH DECISIONS” | Mark Bouris & Stephen Koukoulas

Will the RBA raise interest rates again in November, or is Australia’s slowing economy a reason to hold? In this October 2026 Monthly Economic Update, Mark Bouris sits down with economist Stephen Koukoulas to break down the latest Australian economic data ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s upcoming cash rate decision on Melbourne Cup Day. With inflation pressures, rising unemployment, falling house prices and weak consumer confidence all shaping the outlook, Mark and Stephen examine the competing forces influencing the RBA’s next move, and what the decision could mean for mortgage holders, property buyers, homeowners, investors and Australian businesses. The conversation goes beyond interest rates to explore Australia’s productivity problem, government spending, the cost-of-living squeeze and the economic risks that could shape the months ahead. Stephen and Mark also work through the economic indicators the RBA considers when setting monetary policy, including GDP growth, inflation, wages, unemployment, house prices, retail sales and business investment. In this episode of Property Insights, you’ll hear about:

• RBA November cash rate decision: Is another interest rate rise likely, or could the Reserve Bank hold?
• Inflation and interest rates: How rising oil prices and global economic conditions are influencing the outlook.
• Unemployment and the labour market: What rising unemployment could mean for the RBA’s next decision.
• Australia’s productivity problem: Why productivity matters for wages, business costs, inflation and long-term economic growth.
• The cost-of-living crisis: How mortgage holders and households are coping with higher expenses and borrowing costs.
• Falling house prices: What the property market’s performance could signal about household wealth and consumer spending.
• Consumer and business confidence: Why weak sentiment is an important warning sign for the economy.
• Government spending and the budget: Whether fiscal policy needs to change to strengthen Australia’s economic outlook.
• Business investment and AI: How technology, data centres and investment are influencing productivity and GDP.
• What comes next for the economy: The key indicators to watch as Australia heads towards the end of 2026.