Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) Blog Martin North

This is an edited version of a live discussion, as we looked at the latest data on mortgage and rental stress, and many other metrics from our models, which gives us a view of how households are really travelling in this higher for longer rate environment, and in the light of the RBA’s rate decision. … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A Replay: Latest On Household And Post Code Financial Pressure"

Another outing with our property insider Edwin Almeida, as we kick around the latest news and data across the Australian Property market. Can you believe the theoretical housing announcables? Where is demand for property really coming from? What is the story of overseas purchasers? Plus, we look at the latest numbers, and Edwin was a … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

Guess what, Bankers are looking at ways to ease lending standards to pump the market some more, as bank margins are under pressure at a time when lending growth is already strong, and more households are already in financial difficulty. The value of new housing loans have risen by 17.9% since March 2023, to $27.6 … Continue reading "As More Households Are Crushed, Bankers Talk Their Own Book On Easing Mortgage Lending Rules!"

This is our latest weekly market update. Another wild week on the markets, driven by conflicting data, and a reactive FED, who has effectively given up on forward guidance, and who does not know where rates will go. But despite Powell’s protests to the contrary, some are suggesting Central Bankers are being swayed by political … Continue reading "Are Central Bankers Becoming Political Animals?"

Contrary to the bankers claiming digital payments are replacing cash, yet more evidence is showing that use of cash is on the RISE! We look at data from New Zealand based on a recent survey as the Reserve Bank there announces pilots to make access to cash easier. The trend of rising cash use was … Continue reading "Don’t Believe The Bankers: More People Are Using Cash!"

We had important releases from Stats NZ and The New Zealand Central Bank, which combined highlights a weird and unsettling cognitive dissonance. It was perhaps a matter of perspective, because the focus was on the financial system, not individual households, but given the economy is so strongly connected to what households and businesses do, the … Continue reading "Kiwi’s Cracking Under The Pressure, But RBNZ Says Nothing To See Here!"