Australians could soon face higher airfares and fewer flights as Qantas responds to rising fuel costs. Meanwhile, shoppers hoping for big bargains as David Jones enters voluntary administration could be left disappointed.
And as interest rates rise again, new figures reveal just how far ahead some mortgage holders are on their repayments.
Australians love to travel, but they'll soon have to pay even more for the privilege.
In a market update issued this week, Qantas said it would continue to adjust fares and capacity in response to higher fuel costs.
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That means more expensive tickets for consumers, and fewer flights to choose from on certain routes. The cuts will be coming from its domestic operations.
However, it would appear that more recent price increases haven't deterred Qantas' customers, with the company saying demand remains resilient.
The carrier said international demand across its Qantas and Jetstar brands remains strong, with flyers redirecting travel away from the Middle East.
Of course, those international jaunts may give travellers something to think about, depending on their destination.
The Australian dollar lost around 2 per cent over the week, roughing up the exchange rate for certain popular holiday spots.
It's quite common for retailers entering voluntary administration to hold major sales and offload some excess inventory, but it might be a little different for David Jones — there could be less to sell.
This week, the iconic Australian department store called in a team to manage the business after it wound up in financial trouble.
However, as University of Technology retail expert Gary Mortimer told SBS' On the Money Podcast, David Jones operates a largely concession-based model under which brands retain control.
"They own that space, they own that inventory, they own that staff," Mortimer said.
"It's likely those brands will go in and collect that inventory whilst they can and move it to their physical store assets."
The administrators are now working through restructuring options, including the closure of some stores. That's where some bargains may ultimately be found.
"If it's a David Jones' branded product, you'd expect to see either some discounting or ideally maybe moving that inventory to stores that will be retained," Mortimer said.
David Jones is the world's oldest continuously running department store still operating under the same name.
While the Reserve Bank's fifth interest-rate hike of the year will be painful for many, it would appear there are some borrowers who may be able to absorb that increase.
This week, Westpac revealed 37 per cent of its customers are more than two years ahead on their repayments.
In fact, 53 per cent have buffers of six months at the very least. Just 1 per cent of customers are behind.
Nevertheless, this week's RBA rate rise will likely add $107 per month to the repayments of a typical $700,000 loan over 25 years.
The big four banks will pass on their new rates on Black Friday — which, perhaps somewhat ironically, is also Friday the 13th.
Want more on the world of money and markets? The SBS On the Money podcast breaks down the latest every weekday. You can tune in here or wherever you get your podcasts.
