Consumers cut spending but find cash for travel and entertainment

Published

2 years ago

November 21, 2023

Australian consumers are reshaping their spending habits, with a notable shift towards prioritizing travel and entertainment despite the burden of increasing living costs.

This trend emerges from the most recent CommBank iQ Cost of Living Insights Report, which offers a detailed examination of Australian spending patterns in the current economic climate.

The report reveals a complex financial landscape where the expenditure on essential goods and services has indeed escalated, albeit at a pace that trails behind the current rate of inflation.

Significantly, while overall discretionary spending remains largely unchanged, the nature of this spending is undergoing a notable transformation.

One of the key findings of the report is the increased financial commitment of Australians towards essential needs, including insurance, medical expenses, and pharmacy costs.

This heightened focus on essentials naturally reduces the available budget for discretionary spending in areas such as household goods and clothing.

However, a remarkable exception to this trend is observed in the domains of travel and entertainment.

These sectors stand out, recording a robust growth that surpasses inflation rates, marking an 8.2 per cent increase in travel spending and an 8.6 per cent uptick in entertainment expenditure.

This is in stark contrast to an 8.1 per cent decline in spending on household goods.

Big tech stocks slide amid AI spending concerns

Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon lose billions as investors prioritize earnings over AI, while TSMC and Samsung thrive.

Published

4 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon lose billions as investors prioritize earnings over AI, while TSMC and Samsung thrive.

Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Nvidia, and Alphabet have all suffered steep losses this year, with Microsoft dropping 17% and Amazon falling nearly 14%. Investors are growing cautious as AI spending concerns weigh heavily on valuations.

This shift signals a market focus on immediate earnings rather than the long-term promise of AI, marking a notable change in investor sentiment across the tech sector.

Despite the setbacks for these giants, the tech landscape is not uniform, with other companies managing to grow despite market turbulence.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

Money

AI fears rattle global markets and investors

AI developments cause market volatility, with European software and US tech firms facing significant declines amid rising uncertainty.

Published

1 day ago

February 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

AI developments cause market volatility, with European software and US tech firms facing significant declines amid rising uncertainty.

Global stock markets are experiencing heightened volatility as concerns about AI disruption sweep across industries. Investors are closely monitoring which sectors could be most affected as the technology continues to evolve.

Recent announcements from major US AI companies sent waves through international markets, highlighting the interconnected nature of global finance and technology. European software giants such as Dassault Systèmes and RELX saw significant declines, underscoring the global reach of AI developments.

UBS analysts warn that the impact of AI disruption could intensify in 2026 and 2027, with potential ramifications for a wide range of sectors.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

Money

U.S. stocks falling amid AI worries and weak earnings

U.S. stocks decline amid AI concerns, defensive sectors rising; traders eye commodities, jobs data, and currency trends for insights.

Published

4 days ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

U.S. stocks decline amid AI concerns, defensive sectors rising; traders eye commodities, jobs data, and currency trends for insights.

U.S. stocks are tumbling as investors grow concerned over AI profitability and disappointing earnings. Defensive sectors are attracting attention ahead of the upcoming CPI report, while market participants are carefully watching how tech-heavy AI stocks are influencing broader indices. Steve Gopalan from SkandaFX notes that these factors are shaping market sentiment.

For traders, commodities like gold and oil are also playing a role in sentiment, providing hedges amid market uncertainty. The January jobs report and unemployment data are adding further context, with potential implications for Federal Reserve policy.

Market expectations for rate cuts are shifting as investors weigh economic indicators against global market dynamics. Traders are also eyeing currency movements, including the Australian Dollar and Japanese yen, for signs of broader economic trends.