The Bottom Line
Updated Saturday 14 November 2026
The RBA lifted the cash rate to 4.85 per cent on 4 November, the fifth rise this year from 3.60 per cent at the start of 2026, and the fifth in a row since the last cut in August 2025.
The Guardian profiled households taking on extra work to cover rent and mortgage costs, reporting that consumer confidence is at recessionary lows.
Housing Minister Clare O'Neil said, as reported by The Guardian, that the share of lending going to first-home buyers and owner-occupiers is rising as investors change their behaviour in response to higher borrowing costs and the May 2026 budget's tax changes. MacroBusiness, citing ABS mortgage commitment data, reported that investor mortgage commitments fell sharply in the September quarter, which the outlet attributed to the budget's negative gearing and capital gains tax changes.
S&P Global Ratings warned, as reported by MacroBusiness, that falling property transaction volumes could create a large hole in east coast state budgets heavily reliant on stamp duty. Victoria's Department of Treasury and Finance, according to Freedom of Information documents reported by MacroBusiness, warned the incoming Treasurer that rising debt and interest payments could trigger a downgrade of Victoria's AA credit rating.
Every figure is checked against official data or attributed to the body that announced it. Past editions