What high household debt means for investors

What high household debt means for investors “High house-hold debt is Australia’s Achilles heel,” says AMP Capital Head of Investment Strategy and Economics and Chief Economist, Shane Oliver. “I’ve been thinking this for many years now and yet it seems to keep going higher.” Latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics puts total household liabilities at $2.466 trillion, or 199.7 percent of disposable income, putting it among the highest in the world. Australians have …

China’s consumers swapping Christian Dior for campuses and kangaroos

China’s consumers swapping Christian Dior for campuses and kangaroos Big-ticket acquisitions of Australian resources, office towers and luxury homes by Chinese corporates and billionaires are grabbing headlines. However, it’s the country’s middle class that is powering a spending shift set to benefit Australia longer term, says AMP Capital Chief Economist and Head of Investment Strategy Shane Oliver. “Chinese consumers are showing signs of shifting their focus from status-linked luxury goods like a Christian Dior handbag …

Would you caravan?

Would you caravan? If you’re thinking about taking the family on a great Aussie adventure or perhaps considering buying a caravan to see out your golden years, read on to find out what you need to know. Did you know that 85% of Australians have been either caravanning or camping at least once in their life?1 And 73% of buyers cite ‘seeing more of Australia’ as their main reason to caravan? But it’s not just …

Sun shines on local holidays

  Sun shines on local holidays No matter how far and wide they roam, Aussies still love to call Australia home. Increasingly we are seeing this Great Southern Land as an attractive alternative to holidaying overseas. For a while, the lure of exotic destinations was enhanced by the Aussie dollar’s buying power as it soared against foreign currencies. Value for money That was then. From its high of US$1.10, the Aussie dollar has dipped below …