Inflation stories

US AI megadeals push global venture capital to a record USD $330.9 billion as OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI dominate first-quarter funding.

Australia's energy shock deepens pressure on sole traders and smaller firms, with CreditorWatch flagging higher tax defaults and insolvency risk.

Australian business and household sentiment slumped after fuel costs jumped, with CreditorWatch warning of rising insolvency risks if oil markets stay strained.

Business NSW says soaring fuel, freight and supplier costs are forcing 47% of surveyed firms to review staffing, with regional employers hardest hit.

Opia widens promotion protection for brands as volatility, inflation and fraud fears push marketing teams to seek tighter budget control.

Fractional Chief Marketing Officers say brands must ditch blanket discounting, sharpen value messages and tailor offers as households split into two wallets.

Zeller rolls out Terminal 1x for Australian merchants, bundling POS and payments in one device to tackle rising fixed costs.

Forrester says Middle East tensions will push up infrastructure costs, sharpen cloud and AI spending scrutiny, and heighten cyber risk.

Australian Loyalty Association rolls out executive training on programme economics, AI-driven shopping and behavioural science as households tighten budgets.

Australian residential building approvals surged in February, driven by a volatile apartment rebound, but higher rates and energy costs threaten builders.

Australian SMEs defy weak sentiment to lift hiring 6.8%, while AI job ads surge 13-fold and construction and trades lead wage growth.

Forrester says Asia Pacific tech spending will climb to USD $874 billion in 2026, but inflation, tariffs and geopolitical risks will blunt gains.

JAGGAER's Sydney roundtable explored how data, AI and phased change can help procurement tackle inflation, supplier risk and maverick spend.

AI tools and cost-of-living strain see Australian lenders block AUD $1.5 billion in loan fraud as money mule cases almost double.

RedotPay wins new Canada, US and Argentina licences as it builds a global crypto payments hub and expands stablecoin-based services.

Warehouse automation shifts from a discretionary cost play to a strategic necessity as labour shortages and weak productivity squeeze ANZ firms.

Guidewire touts 'insurance-grade AI' as it uses generative tools to speed risk, claims and pricing decisions for cautious insurers.

Denmark tops FM's 2026 Resilience Index for a third year as Europe dominates the rankings and India makes broad-based gains across all zones.

Digital ordering and payment options are influencing behaviour, with more people using QR codes to avoid awkward money conversations with friends.

Trans-Tasman small firms are upbeat and boosting tech and marketing, yet consumers report patchy service and missing digital basics.