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Australia holds cash rate at 3.6% as inflation risks rise

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Australia holds cash rate at 3.6% as inflation risks rise



The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate unchanged at 3.60 per cent, as policymakers weighed a firmer-than-expected economic recovery against signs of a fresh pick-up in inflation. The Monetary Policy Board said the decision was unanimous.

Australia’s central bank has kept the cash rate at 3.60 per cent, citing mixed signals.
Inflation has eased but recently picked up, with some signs of broader price pressures.
Economic momentum has strengthened, while the labour market is softening.
With risks to inflation shifting upward, the Board opted for caution and will closely monitor global and domestic developments.

Inflation has eased significantly from its 2022 peak, but recent data show a renewed rise. The bank noted that part of the increase in underlying inflation appears temporary, and emphasised uncertainty around the monthly CPI series given its relative newness. Even so, there are emerging signals of a more broadly based acceleration in prices that could prove persistent, warranting close monitoring.

Economic momentum has strengthened, with private demand recovering through improved consumption and investment. Effects of earlier rate cuts have yet to fully filter through the economy. However, the bank acknowledged that money market rates and government bond yields have climbed recently, tightening conditions at the margin.

Labour market indicators show a gradual softening, though conditions remain somewhat tight overall. Unemployment has edged higher and employment growth has slowed, but underutilisation is still low and capacity utilisation remains above its long-run average. Many businesses continue to report difficulty sourcing labour. Wage Price Index growth has moderated from its peak, yet broader wage measures remain strong, and unit labour cost growth is still elevated.

The Board highlighted considerable uncertainty in the domestic outlook. The rebound in activity, particularly in the private sector, has been stronger than anticipated and could increase capacity pressures if maintained. Global risks also remain significant, though Australia’s key trading partners have so far experienced limited impact on their growth and trade performance, the Reserve Bank of Australia said in a release.

Given these mixed signals, the Board judged it appropriate to stay cautious while reassessing the persistence of inflationary pressures. It said risks to inflation had recently shifted to the upside, even as a modest further easing in labour market tightness is expected.

The bank reiterated that it will closely watch global and financial market developments, domestic demand trends, and the evolution of inflation and employment conditions. It reaffirmed its commitment to achieving price stability and full employment, stating it will take whatever actions are necessary to fulfil its mandate.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)



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Stella McCartney & H&M collection previewed at Fashion Awards London

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Stella McCartney & H&M collection previewed at Fashion Awards London



On 1 December, stars from the fashion, tech and music worlds unveiled a first glimpse of the upcoming Stella McCartney H&M collaborative collection, at the Fashion Awards in London.

Amelia Gray, Anitta, Emily Ratajkowski, Yasmin Wijnaldum, Bel Priestley, Alton Mason and Kiara Nirghin were all in attendance, dressed in looks from the upcoming collection.

Celebrities including Amelia Gray, Anitta, Emily Ratajkowski, Yasmin Wijnaldum, Bel Priestley, Alton Mason and Kiara Nirghin showcased looks from the upcoming Stella McCartney x H&M collection in London.
The designs drew on McCartney’s archive, with 00s-inspired lace, sparkle and sculptural silhouettes, celebrating her sustainable, joyful design codes.

The collection celebrates McCartney’s design DNA, with signature styles and house codes pulled from chapters in the story of her brand. The archive mood informed the red-carpet looks, with various pieces nodding to McCartney’s 00s signatures, including lace and sparkles.

Emily Ratajkowski wore black mini dress with draped cape detailing across the shoulders. Amelia Gray wore a sparkly lace and crystal-effect mini dress in beige. Anitta wore a custom-made twist on an upcoming collection item: a floor-length red gown with a stunning looping silhouette that connects shoulder to hemline.

“It was an honour to wear this amazing look and give people a sneak peek of the Stella McCartney H&M collection. I felt amazing in red. This feels like another perfect match, between two very beloved brands.”– Anitta.

“London, Stella’s home city, is the perfect place to give people a first glimpse of what’s to come in the Stella McCartney H&M collection. Stella’s designs have changed the course of fashion history: they championed sustainable practices long before that conversation became mainstream. Her work is always joyful, playful, energetic.” – Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M.

The Stella McCartney H&M collection will launch in stores and online in spring 2026.

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)



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CAI seeks scrapping of India’s 11% cotton duty to protect industry

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CAI seeks scrapping of India’s 11% cotton duty to protect industry



India’s leading cotton trade body has called for the immediate removal of the 11 per cent import duty on raw cotton, warning that the domestic textile industry is losing competitiveness due to costlier Indian cotton and rising minimum support prices (MSP). The government has exempted duty-free cotton imports until December 31 this year, but the industry wants the duty removed permanently.

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) said the industry is passing through one of its worst phases, with high domestic cotton prices preventing Indian mills from benefitting from free trade agreements (FTAs) with partner countries.

India’s cotton trade body has urged the government to permanently remove the 11 per cent import duty on raw cotton, warning that high MSP, low productivity and elevated domestic prices are eroding mill competitiveness and hurting exports.
CAI said duty restoration after December 2025 could worsen unemployment, bad debts and industry stress.

High MSP, low domestic productivity and elevated input costs have made Indian cotton significantly more expensive than global prices. As a result, mills are unable to compete with international suppliers, while spinners and fabric manufacturers face continuous margin pressure. The 11 per cent duty, introduced during COVID-19, has outlived its purpose and is now distorting the market, the CAI said in a press release.

CAI warned that the industry’s distress has also begun affecting cotton traders and ginners, with delayed payments and rising bad debts across the value chain. The association noted that the only sustainable solution is to ensure the availability of competitively priced raw cotton, which requires urgent duty removal.

The press release further stated that India’s textile exports are suffering due to global recessionary conditions and uncertainty in Europe. CAI said that if raw cotton imports become costlier after December 2025, unemployment, loan defaults and financial stress across mills could intensify.

The association also linked duty removal to policy goals, noting that the Textile Ministry’s target of achieving $100 billion in textile and apparel exports by 2030 will only be feasible if mills receive raw material at competitive rates. It added that India historically had zero import duty on cotton with no adverse impact on farmers.

CAI cited abnormal seasonal rains this year, which damaged cotton quality and forced mills to depend more heavily on imports. If the duty is not removed permanently, the association cautioned that buyers may shift to rival manufacturing hubs such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other markets—leading to a long-term loss of India’s global market share.

CAI president Vinay N Kotak urged the government to intervene immediately, stating that permanent removal of the 11 per cent duty is critical for the survival of the entire cotton and textile value chain. The association concluded that only with competitive raw cotton can India fully utilise FTAs, attract global orders and strengthen its position in the textile supply chain.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)



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Will Frasers Group relaunch Matchesfashion next year?

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Will Frasers Group relaunch Matchesfashion next year?


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December 11, 2025

It looks like Frasers Group may be planning to relaunch Matchesfashion in 2026 although it’s not a dead cert and there’s been no confirmation from the company.

Matchesfashion

A report said the Matchesfashion.com website was back online with the words “relaunching 2026” under the name. But the situation is unclear as all that’s there as we published this story was an almost-empty page in the brand’s familiar green tone with no mention of a relaunch date.

A relaunch wouldn’t exactly come as a shock, although the speed with which Frasers had earlier closed the business did surprise some.

Frasers acquired the business out of administration for a reported £52 million just before Christmas 2023 but put it into administration in March 2024, citing the enormity of the task to turn it around. 

Matches — which began as a physical retailer — had been one of the pioneers of luxury online retail and once had a valuation of around £800 million. But a succession of CEOs failed to turn it into a digital-first business that was able to make a profit.

Its struggles came at the same time as other pioneers such as Farfetch and Net-A-Porter encountered their own profitability problems.

But despite the problem with online luxury real, the big names in the sector remain valuable properties with a high profile. Coupang’s acquisition of Farfetch and LuxExperience’s purchase of Yoox Net-A-Porter highlighted how in-demand they are.

As for Matchesfashion, there had been rumours of a comeback for it and in May, The Times reported that Frasers was working on a “members-only Matches Fashion relaunch” and that it had seen an “internal pitch deck” suggesting the luxury fashion webstore could be turned into what it described as the “Soho House of retail”.

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