Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Treasurer Jim Chalmers watch the PM speak on Wednesday.

Rate cut all but locked in for May despite higher-than-expected inflation

Economists and financial markets believe a quarter percentage point cut in May,worth $100 a month to repayments on a $600,000 mortgage,is all but a done deal due to the latest ABS figures.

  • Shane Wright andMillie Muroi

Latest

How much should the Tooth Fairy pay in 2025?

What’s the going rate for the Tooth Fairy,and should it be adjusted for inflation?

From 10¢ in the ’60s to the generous $20 Josh Frydenberg’s five-year-old received in 2022,Tooth Fairy inflation is real – but that doesn’t make it right.

  • Felicity Caldwell
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.

Voters’ unasked question:Which party do I want deciding wages policy?

For an election dominated by cost-of-living sloganeering,neither Labor nor the Coalition has bothered to utter a word on wages.

  • Ross Gittins
Albanese and Dutton shake hands ahead of the final leaders’ debate on Sunday evening.

From Trump’s phone number to the price of eggs,our experts give their verdicts on the final debate

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the odd claim that Donald Trump does not have a mobile phone,but he was much closer to guessing the price of a dozen eggs.

  • David Crowe,Matthew Knott andJacqueline Maley
Share house life can be fun in your 20s,but housing priorities change over time.

Wanted:A rental without a leaky roof or wine stains on the carpet. Am I too fussy?

If I owned an apartment,I’d be installing air con and a dishwasher. Instead,I’m searching rental properties for what feels like a unicorn.

  • Melissa Mason
Painting your room a nurturing colour has the ability to transform. Saturating spaces,where walls,ceilings and trims are painted in similar hues is popular.

The surprising five-step plan to a stylish home for (next to) nothing

No money in the renovation kitty? You can create beautiful,elegant interiors to make your heart sing without busting the budget.

  • Robyn Willis
Advertisement

The top reasons voters are hesitant on Albanese or Dutton – and it’s worse in marginal seats

An exclusive survey for this masthead reveals the top concerns voters have as the May 3 election approaches.

  • David Crowe
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

‘Looks and smells like a tax’:Dutton’s gas plan flagged as unconstitutional

Dutton’s Australian gas scheme could spark a High Court battle with fossil fuel giants and legal experts warn the policy appears discriminatory.

  • Nick Toscano andMike Foley

Where Albanese and Dutton stand on the eight key issues in this election

New tax and housing policies are latecomers to the campaign agenda that will dominate debate. Medicare and a nuclear energy fight are also in the conversation.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton avoided questions on some of the key issues facing the country.

As Albanese and Dutton fought it out,these were the questions they couldn’t answer

Are we seeing the impact of climate change? What will you cut? The leaders skirted around many questions,or ignored them altogether,in the second debate.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos