Finance & economics | The turn of the screw

Australian houses are less affordable than they have been in decades

In spite of rising borrowing costs, prices have stayed stubbornly resilient

People protest outside South Australia parliament in Adelaide against the rising costs of rents and to stop evictions.
Image: Alamy

In Australia, as in most places, waterfront property comes at a premium. But to see the full effects of high-cost Australian housing, look beyond trophy homes on Sydney Harbour and beach pads in Bondi. In cities across the country, tents and other makeshift shelters are springing up by the water. They are the dark side of a housing market that has held firm despite rising interest rates. For households of all incomes, the share of homes that are affordable is at its lowest in 30 years.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “The turn of the screw”

Modi’s juggernaut

From the January 20th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Finance & economics

The stockmarket rout may not be over

As investors pause for breath, we assess what could turn a correction into a crash

Why Japanese stocks are on a rollercoaster ride

Volatility in global markets continues


Why Japanese markets have plummeted

The global rout continues, with the Topix experiencing its worst day since 1987


Swing-state economies are doing just fine

They would be doing even better if the Biden-Harris administration had been more cynical

Can Kamala Harris win on the economy?

A visit to a crucial swing state reveals the problems she will face

Why fear is sweeping markets everywhere

American and Japanese indices have taken a battering. So have banks and gold