No rate cut for you

Australians aren't spending madly

Has the tobacco excise become self-defeating?

Microsoft to refund customers

On our 100th episode of Dollars & Sense, we discuss why the Reserve Bank always seems to prioritise inflation over employment in its interest rate discussions. 

Greg and Elinor discuss the Reserve Bank’s predictable rates decision, Microsoft’s decision to refund some customers after pressure from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, and whether Australia’s tobacco excise has become self-defeating.

Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia’s future by Professor George Williams is available now via Australia Institute Press.

This discussion was recorded on Thursday 6 November 2025.

Host: Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // @grogsgamut

Host: Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // @elinorjohnstonleek

Show notes:

The RBA predicts inflation will rise faster than wages. Let’s hope it’s wrong by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (November 2025)

Explainer: Illegal smoking police raids are being done to raise tax by Greg Jericho, The Point Live (November 2025)

Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

On our 100th episode of Dollars &amp; Sense, we discuss why the Reserve Bank always seems to prioritise inflation over employment in its interest rate discussions. 
Greg and Elinor discuss the Reserve Bank&rsquo;s predictable rates decision, Microsoft&rsquo;s decision to refund some customers after pressure from the Australian Competition &amp; Consumer Commission, and whether Australia&rsquo;s tobacco excise has become self-defeating.
<a href="https://australiainstitute.org.au/store/aiming-higher-vantage-point-issue-3">Aiming Higher: Universities and Australia&rsquo;s future</a> by Professor George Williams is available now via Australia Institute Press.
This discussion was recorded on Thursday 6 November 2025.
Host:&nbsp;Greg Jericho, Chief Economist, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grogsgamut.bsky.social">@grogsgamut</a>
Host:&nbsp;Elinor Johnston-Leek, Senior Content Producer, the Australia Institute // <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social">@elinorjohnstonleek</a>
Show notes:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2025/nov/06/the-rba-predicts-inflation-will-rise-faster-than-wages-lets-hope-its-wrong">The RBA predicts inflation will rise faster than wages. Let&rsquo;s hope it&rsquo;s wrong</a> by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (November 2025)
<a href="https://live.thepoint.com.au/2025/11/the-point-live-coalition-net-zero-saga-drags-on/5987/">Explainer: Illegal smoking police raids are being done to raise tax</a> by Greg Jericho, The Point Live (November 2025)
Theme music:&nbsp;Blue Dot Sessions
We&rsquo;d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to <a href="mailto:podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au">podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au</a>.

Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening the economy and society, but it's easy to get lost in data. Dollars and Sense dives into the latest economic figures to explain how they impact you and what they tell us about the state of the Australian economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia.

Economic data can tell us a lot about what's happening the economy and society, but it's easy to get lost in data. Dollars and Sense dives into the latest economic figures to explain how they impact you and what they tell us about the state of the Australian economy, with host Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and the Centre for Future Work and popular columnist of Grogonomics with Guardian Australia.

Dollars & Sense

Dollars & Sense demystifies the latest economic figures, how they impact you and what they can tell us about the economy, with host with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work, and author of Guardian Australia's Grogonomics column.  

Dollars &amp; Sense demystifies the latest economic figures, how they impact you and what they can tell us about the economy, with host with Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute and Centre for Future Work, and author of Guardian Australia's Grogonomics column.

On our 100th episode of Dollars & Sense, we discuss why the Reserve Bank always seems to prioritise inflation over employment in its interest rate discussions.

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