What we learned, 27 July 2025
With that, we’re wrapping up the blog. Before we go, here are the biggest stories from today:
Prime minister Anthony Albanese says he believes Israel has breached international law by stopping food from entering Gaza;
The prime minister also said the government has not yet made a decision about whether YouTube will be included in a social media ban;
Albanese also said the timing of an end to the ban on the importation of US beef was a “absolutely” a coincidence;
Deputy prime minister Richard Marles has attended the Talisman Sabre war games in Darwin;
Dfat has confirmed two Australians were on a boat seized by the Israeli military as people on board tried to bring aid to Gaza despite a blockade;
Australian academic Feng Chongyi says an arrest warrant issued for him by Hong Kong authorities amounted to “political prosecution”;
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has rejected an analysis by rightwing thinktank the Institute of Public Affairs alleging the government spent $382m on treaty negotiations;
A race car driver has died at the scene of a crash during a race Saturday in New South Wales;
We’ll pick things up again tomorrow.
Updated
The piece of data that could determine the next interest rate move
Quarterly inflation data will dominate the economic agenda this week, while dwelling approvals, retail sales and property price figures will also be revealed.
Traders, economists and mortgage holders will be locked into the Australian Bureau of Statistics website this week for a piece of data that could determine whether the Reserve Bank cuts interest rates next month.
Minutes from the RBA board’s last meeting confirmed the central bank was holding out for more signs inflation was on track before cutting again, highlighting the importance of Wednesday’s quarterly consumer price index.
On Thursday, economists will gorge on a feast of data as the ABS releases retail trade, building approvals and international trade price figures.
The retail print is the last the bureau will produce before it switches over to a more comprehensive measure of consumption, the monthly household spending indicator.
Property analytics firm Cotality will update its home value index on Friday, with prices expected to continue rising as lower interest rates boost demand.
Meanwhile, investors on Wall Street are optimistic the US will soon reach a trade deal with the European Union.
– AAP
Updated
