Global trade will fall by nine percent this year, according to World Trade Organization (WTO) forecasts, the biggest decline since World War II. Considering that in 2007 trade grew by six percent, the 2009 figures represent a significant fall and have sparked fears of protectionism, initially brought on by the possibility that the US stimulus […]
“Avoiding recession will be difficult,” says Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen. A recession is two consecutive quarters of negative growth; Australia’s first occurred in the last quarter of 2008 and this quarter is set to follow suit, he believes. “We haven’t gone there but… we are seeing, a slowdown,” Bowen admitted. “We have said all along […]
One of the best things about having an online presence is that information on it can be updated instantly. However, many businesses don’t take advantage of this benefit and often leave their website stagnant. Make sure you have access to a system that allows you to keep content updated, whether it’s a newsfeed, a blog […]
Many business owners worry about the days their employees have off when they’re not sick, but they should actually worry about the days employees come to work sick. In an environment where work comes first at any cost, staff feel obliged to come in when they’re ill, risking a loss of productivity on an individual […]
Productivity not only saves you time and money, but also helps you focus more on your core business. Here are some solutions to make you business more productive.
Consumer research commissioned by out-of-home media firm oOh!media sheds light on how advertising works in a retail environment with 83 percent of respondents saying they were affected by price discounts, while almost two-thirds say they stick to regular brands and just over half are after convenience. The How We Really Shop survey revealed that consumers […]
Pacific Brands chief executive Sue Morphet believes that if consumers had bought Australian, the 1,850 jobs at Pacific Brands would still be intact. Last month, the parent company of iconic Australian brands such as Bonds and King Gee announced it would move its local manufacturing offshore to China. “Long, long gone are the days when […]
The recent edition of the Melbourne Institute Monthly Bulletin of Economic Trends has forecast a rate cut in April following a rise in unemployment. The report sees unemployment rising from 5.2 percent to 5.5 percent in June, with the mining states to be hardest hit due to dampened demand for resources. “The significant deterioration observed […]
Criminals, expatriate Australians and pets will be recipients of the Federal Government’s stimulus package due to the government not putting in sufficient legislation amendments to ensure the funds are spent in the most useful way for the economy. “[Rudd] could have put in the legislation amendments to the effect that the money needs to be […]
China wants to exclude its export market from any treaty on climate change after estimates showing that export production comprises 20 percent of its carbon emissions. Importers of Chinese products need to take responsibility for the emissions caused by the products they buy, said Chinese climate official Li Gao: “We produce products and these products […]
