Bullock acknowledged that the pressure on indebted households varies significantly depending on the level of leverage. Surprisingly, approximately 25% of highly leveraged borrowers with loans exceeding four times their income face the challenge of paying more for essential expenses and housing than what they receive in income.
This indicates that the situation is far more severe for a specific group of borrowers than for those with more modest levels of debt.
It's important to note that the RBA used the Household Expenditure Measure (HEM) to downplay the severity of the situation. The HEM is a measure that reflects the median spend on absolute basics and the 25th percentile spend on discretionary basics, excluding rents and mortgage payments.
However, the HEM is based on the most basic standard of living and doesn't accurately represent households with mortgages. Moreover, it assumes that households have no other debts, which is often unrealistic.
In fact, the latest RBA Financial Stability Review estimated that 13% of variable rate borrowers experience a cost of living that exceeds their incomes when considering additional expenses like private health insurance and school fees.
Despite the RBA's efforts to keep the cash rate on hold, Australia's fixed rate mortgage reset process is still ongoing and will continue until mid-2024. Consequently, average mortgage repayments will continue to rise across the country.
With Wednesday's CPI inflation data announcing higher-than-expected figures, the possibility of the RBA maintaining the cash rate at its current level seems unlikely. Further rate hikes could push more households underwater, exacerbating the mortgage stress situation.
Undoubtedly, the biggest risk to Australian households is the steady rise in unemployment. Australia's record immigration numbers impose a demand of around 37,000 new jobs every month just to stabilize the unemployment rate, assuming a constant participation rate.
However, even if job growth slows down to the pre-pandemic average of 22,000 new jobs per month, Australia's unemployment rate could surpass 5% within a year, as indicated by independent economist Tarric Brooker's analysis.
When combined with the potential for further mortgage rate increases, the rising unemployment rate poses a grave threat to numerous Australian households already burdened by mortgage debt. The risk of financial distress looms large.
Published:Friday, 27th Oct 2023
Source: financialservicesonline.com.au
![]() | New Challenges for Aussie Home Buyers 29 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au The latest ANZ CoreLogic Housing Affordability Report for November has revealed a 'triple whammy' effect on prospective home buyers in Australia. Affordability has worsened for not only buyers but also mortgage holders and renters, and unfortunately, the situation is predicted to deteriorate further by 2024. - read more |
![]() | Baby Boomers' Spending Habits: A Challenge for RBA 28 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au Last week's release of spending data by Commbank IQ has shed light on a concerning trend that is most likely causing headaches within the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). - read more |
![]() | Rise in Small Businesses Complaints to AFCA Indicates Growing Concerns 24 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au In the 2022-23 financial year, small businesses lodged a total of 3,807 complaints with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), indicating a significant increase of 9% compared to the previous year. As a result of these complaints, small businesses received $23.4 million in compensation and refunds, marking a 16% increase from the previous financial year. - read more |
![]() | Why Embracing AI Can Enhance Your Financial Advice Business 23 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au Sue Viskovic, the founder of consulting firm Elixir Consulting, highlights the importance of incorporating AI into financial advice businesses in an upcoming episode of the IFA podcast. While there may be apprehension regarding the role of digital tools in providing advice, Viskovic emphasizes the continued need for human interaction and trust. - read more |
![]() | New Insights on Inflation and the Australian Economy 22 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has issued a warning, stating that inflation will continue to be a 'crucial challenge' for the Australian economy in the next one or two years. While many attribute the current inflationary pressures to supply-side constraints, Bullock emphasizes the underlying demand component that central banks are trying to address. - read more |
![]() | Gen Zs Financial Concerns Outweigh Other Generations 18 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au Financial matters are causing significant worry among Gen Z individuals, with a staggering 68% feeling the pressure according to the recent research findings by ASIC's Moneysmart program, surpassing the concerns of any other age group. This release coincides with the introduction of a fresh consumer awareness campaign by Moneysmart, aimed at empowering Gen Z individuals to quickly acquire fundamental financial knowledge and develop positive fiscal habits. - read more |
![]() | The Importance of Teaching Financial Literacy to Youth 17 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au During a recent outreach program at Penrhos College, Wealth Designers senior financial adviser Dawn Thomas asked a group of Year 9 students about the cohort with the least amount of superannuation. To their surprise, the answer was not what they expected. - read more |
![]() | AMP's New Business-Focused Digital Bank 17 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au AMP Group has announced its plans to launch a digital bank designed for sole traders and small businesses, expected to be operational by early 2025. This venture, aimed at disrupting a ready market, will see AMP partner with Engine by Starling, a UK-based neobank subsidiary, to leverage its modular platform for a scalable and robust infrastructure. - read more |
![]() | Study Finds 1 in 10 Aussies Unprepared for Financial Challenges 11 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au A recent study conducted by MLC reveals that while most Australians recognize the importance of superannuation in achieving financial independence, a significant portion of the population feels ill-prepared to overcome unexpected financial hurdles. The study, called the Financial Freedom study, shows that although many Aussies are actively working towards improving their financial wellbeing, additional assistance is needed to achieve financial objectives and adequately plan for retirement. - read more |
![]() | Understanding the Recent RBA Interest Rate Hike 08 Nov 2023: .financialservicesonline.com.au Yesterday, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) made the decision to increase interest rates once again. This move comes as inflation in Australia remains stubbornly high and more persistent than anticipated. While there has been some improvement in goods price inflation, the prices of various services continue to rise rapidly. - read more |
![]() | Good Debt Versus Bad Debt Some people see debt as a curse. Others see it as a friend. Debt can make you miserable, or it can be used to make you wealthy beyond your wildest dreams. The trouble is, how do we know what is good and what is bad?
- read more
|
![]() | Managing Credit Card Debt If your credit card debt is starting to get out of control - or you simply want to know how to avoid potential credit card pitfalls, you are not alone. Managing credit cards is a problem faced by many who are now drowning in an ocean of debt. Here are some simple strategies that may be of help. - read more
|
![]() | Where To Get A Debt Consolidation Loan When You Have Bad Credit If you find yourself struggling under the weight of multiple loans, credit cards and other personal debts it can be hard to know where to turn for help. Your lenders may simply be unwilling or unable to give you any wriggle-room. If you find yourself in this situation, then it might be worth exploring the option of online debt consolidation loans - read more
|
![]() | Loan Finance: How to Shop Around Without Damaging Your Credit If you are considering taking out a loan, you wouldn’t go out of your way to make it harder on yourself to get approved or to get a good interest rate, would you? Yet many loan applicants would enjoy a considerably better outcome on their loan application if they followed this important rule.
- read more
|
![]() | Credit Cards: Identity Theft and Credit Protection Credit card fraud and identity theft have become widespread not only on the Internet but offline as well. Learn how to avoid these risks and protect your identity as well as your finances or credit line. - read more
|
![]() | Choosing the Right Bank Financial institutions are located all around the world. If you are looking to open a bank account, whether that bank account is a transactional account or a savings account, you have a number of banking options. - read more
|
![]() | 3 Simple, Effective Tips For DIY Debt Settlement Here we share 3 simple tips to eliminate your debt problems... so you can move on with life without the constant financial stress of dealing with creditors and collection agencies. To get out of debt, though, you do need to put in a little effort, and that's where understanding the process comes in. - read more
|
![]() | The Four Golden Rules Of Personal Finance As long as you're alive, you are a player on the field of the 'money game'... and you'll need to know the basic rules before you get tagged by the more experienced players! - read more
|
![]() | 5 Credit Killers A good credit score speaks volumes about your financial habits. It's the evidence most creditors need to evaluate your credit worthiness. - read more
|
![]() | Five Worst Credit Card Mistakes Credit cards can be an excellent way to manage your finances ... they can even be an investment tool. However your credit card can quickly become your enemy if not used correctly. Here are five of the worst mistakes most credit card holders make. If you can avoid these mistakes, you will benefit greatly. - read more
|