The unemployment rate has risen to 4.5 per cent, hours worked are falling and wages growth is easing. So is it time for the RBA to rethink its view that Australia's labour market is still tight?

Michael Thompson is joined by economist Stephen Koukoulas for the Week Ahead, looking at what the latest jobs numbers mean for interest rates and what to expect from this week's inflation figures.

They also preview business investment and household spending data, and ask whether Australians should be told exactly how each member of the RBA's Monetary Policy Board votes on interest rates.
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The unemployment rate has risen to 4.5 per cent, hours worked are falling and wages growth is easing. So is it time for the RBA to rethink its view that Australia's labour market is still tight? Michael Thompson is joined by economist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.marketeconomics.com.au/stephen-koukoulas&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1787919460857380&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Jqf9ERbi3RjAk9V4luMUe">Stephen Koukoulas</a>&nbsp;for the Week Ahead, looking at what the latest jobs numbers mean for interest rates and what to expect from this week's inflation figures. They also preview business investment and household spending data, and ask whether Australians should be told exactly how each member of the RBA's Monetary Policy Board votes on interest rates. Join our<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1787919460857380&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pfzZTyjrxrybAUqvUcwxO">&nbsp;free daily newsletter here</a>.

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0wu3ezGEfBZFYspJbTTaYL">Sean Aylmer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08pZ8jZ88rHJgCfbHkTr5k">Michael Thompson</a>.&nbsp;Find out more at&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain%3Dfearandgreed.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DLq_FuqjEt3HC-ZK1704H">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Fear and Greed is Australia's most popular business podcast.

FEAR & GREED | Business News

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/">Sean Aylmer</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/">Michael Thompson</a>. Find out more at <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Q+A: The Week Ahead | 24 Aug 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/22665c29-5d2a-45b7-9b00-b4af00c6da32/transcript