Rising cost-of-living pressures continue to strain household budgets across Australia and policymakers require timely and reliable measures of financial hardship. This paper introduces a new high-frequency indicator of financial stress derived from failed direct debit payments in bank transaction data. This indicator could offer policymakers an early warning indicator of financial stress and inform targeted...

The report examines how much of the incomes of people earning between $40,000 to $130,000 would need to be spent to rent a typical unit across regional areas and capital cities. It finds rental stress is no longer confined to those on lower incomes – it’s affecting professionals, essential workers and middle-income families. It provides...

A survey of Australian adults regarding their experience of the cost of living crisis shows that the decline in living standards and the corresponding growth of poverty and inequality is a core concern for many Australians. Respondents call for a multi-dimensional approach to reduce the cost of living as well as increase wages and income...

The report investigates whether low-income households in Queensland can afford a basic standard of living, using five household models to illustrate how cost-of-living pressures vary based on incomes and financial circumstances.

This report investigates the impact of rising cost of living on people living in poverty and in low-income households across NSW. This year, the research shone a spotlight on the impact of these pressures on households with children. The findings show little improvement in the capacity of low-income households to meet their basic needs, as...