Card Surcharges Are Ending. The Costs Aren’t
What the RBA’s reform means for pricing, margins, and consumer behaviour. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to ban debit and credit card surcharges is being positioned as a win…
Continue readingCategory Archives: Expertise
Australia has plenty of workers. They’re just in the wrong jobs
The economic case for retraining into trades has never been stronger. That’s not why people aren’t doing it. Australia’s official unemployment rate sits below 4%. The construction sector is running…
Continue readingSME March 2026: SME sentiment collapses, but growth ambitions remain
Updates to this research are published monthly. SME March 2026: SME sentiment has weakened significantly, reflecting rising geopolitical uncertainty, cost pressures and a deteriorating near term outlook. However, growth ambitions…
Continue readingNew vehicle sales February 2026: A softer market, but not for everyone
New Vehicle Sales February 2026: 94,131 vehicles were sold in Australia in February 2026, down 2.7% on the same month last year. On the surface, a mild softening. Underneath it,…
Continue readingWhy tourism destination stewardship needs better research
Tourism is a significant economic force in Australia. Total visitor expenditure has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with the national THRIVE 2030 strategy targeting $230 billion in visitor spending by the…
Continue readingSME February 2026: SME Growth Hits 12-Month Low
Updates to this research are published monthly. SME February 2026: SME revenues improved slightly in February, with the net score recovering to -12% from -17% in January, although still below…
Continue readingHow to engage growth-focused SMEs
How to engage growth-focused SMEs is one of the most important challenges in B2B marketing. Many organisations segment the market using firmographics such as business size. This approach is common…
Continue readingAnimal health’s surprising role in human treatments
Some of the most important medicines in use today began their lives treating sheep, cattle, or companion animals. That is not a coincidence. The relationship between animal health and human…
Continue readingHow generative AI is redefining search behaviour in Australia
Generative AI is increasingly being used as a first-choice channel for information-intensive tasks. Findings from the latest Fifth Quadrant Consumer Sentiment Tracker indicate a measurable shift in search behaviour. Australians…
Continue readingNew vehicle sales January 2026: One in seven cars now has a plug
New Vehicle Sales January 2026: Australian new vehicle sales totalled 87,753 units in January 2026, just 128 more than the same month last year. On the surface, a market in…
Continue reading