In my interview on ABC Statewide Drive with Jess Mcguire yesterday, we discussed the recent interest rate cuts in Sweden, Canada, and Europe, with New Zealand potentially following suit in the coming months as the economy slows. Consumer sentiment is also shifting, with a noticeable focus on essentials, as companies like Kathmandu (ASX:KMD), Cettire (ASX:CTT), and Nike (NYSE:NKE) project lower sales for the June to August period due to decreased discretionary spending. Additionally, we touched on the significant influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the impressive performance of the Magnificent 7 stocks last year and this calendar year.

On the housing front, issues such as the high cost of materials and labour, coupled with affordability challenges, are hampering the ability to meet the growing population’s housing needs. Despite a temporary pause in rental increases for the June quarter, Australia remains one of the most unaffordable housing markets globally, often described as “impossibly unaffordable.

You can watch my segment of the interview from the 1:38 mark here: ABC Statewide Drive – Money matters with David Buckland