Cost of Living

When it's time to fill up with petrol, paying extra at the pump can be financially costly. We've done the legwork for you and dispelled the myths about what controls prices and how they're determined.

Sydney's housing crisis is evolving into a hidden health crisis and as rents soar, some residents face an impossible choice: unaffordable housing or unsafe living conditions.

Australians are set to spend almost $7 billion in just four days during this year's Black Friday-Cyber Monday sales, as the cost of living sees more shoppers eager to snap up a bargain.

As the prime minister is forced to deny he stopped key environmental legislation passing the Senate, he issues a plea to Australians who are doing it tough to stay the course at the 2025 federal election. 

Insurance customers who want to fight massive premium increases have few options for recourse, with the financial services watchdog refusing to take on some cases.

Before the last election, Anthony Albanese often talked about "kicking with the wind" in the final quarter. Now, he's talking about "leaving nothing on the field", even if he's leaving a few promises behind in the interests of improving Labor's election chances.

The federal government announced a plan to change the way student debts were indexed months ago. Now the legislation will finally start saving students money. 

Tyler Mahoney likes to call herself a "professional gold digger" — but that doesn't mean what you think it means. 

The South Australian government has been accused of wasting taxpayer money on a new “spin doctor” but the state's premier claims the new position was meant to be a public sector saving measure.

Researchers and frontline charities are seeing a growing number of Australian children going hungry and missing school, as the twin pressures of a cost-of-living crisis and housing shortages push families to the brink.

More than 20 per cent of Australian renters are living in poverty after their rent has been paid, a new study has found. 

Small businesses in regional South Australia are sharing supplies and referring customers to each other as part of a strategy that owners say is helping drive economic growth in their communities.

Sky-high airfares, poor flight times and unexpected scheduling changes have become standard in Darwin — and there are concerns prices may be about to climb even higher. 

For most people the policy affects, the timing may not seem critical. But a fraction are owed refunds from the government and still don't have that money in their pockets. 

If Peter Dutton has dominated politics this week it is because he has dominated the political agenda this year, as well as this week, even with his rare appearances before the Canberra Press Gallery.

Hundreds of Woolworths staff have walked off the job indefinitely at distribution centres in Victoria and New South Wales, demanding better pay and working conditions. 

The number of people dreaming of an escape to the country has doubled over the last 18 months. But experts are concerned the infrastructure isn't ready for it.

Schools are reporting more children coming in hungry. Food charity Foodbank is helping them fill their bellies before class.

A snapshot of Australians' experience with health services over the past year reveals the cost of living crisis continues to influence how we access health care.

Overall Australian attitudes to Donald Trump's victory are negative, but a surprising number of mortgage-aged households are less likely to fear him, a survey taken after the US election has found.