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  • 菲律賓國旗

  Australia's 1.2 Million-Home Goal at Risk as Construction Falls Behind

  Australia's goal of building 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is under pressure as the construction industry faces labour shortages and rising material and financing costs. Reuters reports that housing completions are 27% below the pace required to meet the target, while the Housing Industry Association expects the country to fall about 15% short.In Brisbane, some builders have been forced to pour concrete at night because they cannot find enough workers during the day. The city is also preparing for about A$7 billion in Olympic-related construction ahead of the 2032 Games, adding to demand for skilled labour. Housing experts say construction capacity in cities including Sydney is already close to its limits.Apartment development is also being held back by rising costs. Urbis data shows that nearly 70% of apartments approved since 2020 have yet to start construction. The share is 83% on the Gold Coast, 64% in Sydney and 62% in Melbourne. Developers say higher labour, materials and financing costs are making some projects increasingly difficult to justify.The government's decision in May to remove some property investment tax benefits has cooled the market, with auction clearance rates falling to a six-year low and average prices declining about 2% over four months. Builders say this does little to address the housing shortage and could discourage new developments. The government, however, says it will maintain the 1.2 million-home target and continue efforts to speed up construction.

  2026-08-17 09:00
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  • 菲律賓國旗

  U.S. Producer Inflation Cools in July as Energy Costs Retreat

  U.S. producer prices showed signs of easing in July, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) rising 4.7% from a year earlier, down from a 5.5% increase in June. The Labor Department said the index for final demand was unchanged from the previous month, suggesting that wholesale inflation pressures moderated after a period of stronger price increases.The slowdown was largely linked to lower energy costs. Prices for final-demand energy fell 3.1% from June, helping offset price pressures elsewhere in the economy. The decline came after energy prices had surged amid the conflict in the Middle East, indicating that some of the earlier impact on producer prices has begun to fade.The July figures also showed differences between goods and services. Prices for final-demand goods declined 0.7%, while services prices increased 0.2%. Although the overall PPI reading remained elevated compared with a year earlier, the monthly stability and retreat in energy prices provided another indication that inflationary pressure may be losing momentum.The latest producer-price data could also influence expectations for the Federal Reserve's monetary policy. Along with recent signs of moderating consumer inflation and a weaker labor market, the softer PPI reading has reduced expectations for another interest-rate increase in September. Policymakers are expected to assess additional inflation and employment data before making their next decision.

  2026-08-17 09:00
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  • 菲律賓國旗

  U.S.-Canada Trade Talks Near Critical Deadline as Tariffs Loom

  The United States and Canada are entering a crucial stage of trade negotiations, with Washington set to impose additional tariffs of up to 50% on hundreds of Canadian products from August 19. As officials race to reach an agreement, a new Oxford Economics analysis warns that the collapse of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could put more than 316,000 jobs at risk across the two countries.The report examines three scenarios: maintaining current arrangements, allowing the USMCA to lapse, or successfully renegotiating the agreement. If the pact breaks down, the United States could lose about 214,000 jobs and Canada roughly 102,000. By contrast, a successful agreement could create about 137,000 jobs in the United States and nearly 98,000 in Canada.The economic impact would extend beyond employment. Oxford Economics estimates that a USMCA breakdown could reduce U.S. economic output by about US$1.04 trillion by 2035, while Canada's economy could lose approximately C$271 billion. Both countries would also face greater inflationary pressure and weaker real disposable income growth, with Canada expected to suffer a particularly significant impact.With the August 19 deadline approaching, Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington as negotiations intensified. Ottawa is reportedly seeking an interim arrangement to prevent the new tariffs while addressing disputes over steel, aluminum, automobiles and lumber. The outcome could shape both the immediate tariff burden and the future of North American trade.

  2026-08-16 09:00