Compare the Market

Call of Duty tops list of video games linked to accidental household damage

James McCay — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 05:00:31 +0000

As gamers get stuck into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, research suggests the franchise can cause more than virtual destruction. Compare the Market research found that Call of Duty was the game most associated with accidental household damage, with 30% of respondents who experienced gaming-related damage saying they were playing the series when it […]

Tradies out, toolboxes in: Aussies turning to DIY projects in droves to cut costs

Phillip Portman — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 01:10:24 +0000

Australians are turning to DIY home repairs in droves to save money, with new Compare the Market research revealing many are ditching tradies and instead picking up the tools themselves for household maintenance, plumbing issues and even electrical faults. However, the Compare the Market is warning that some repairs could create complications if homeowners later […]

RBA interest rate rise November 2026: The banks passing on the 0.25% increase

Phillip Portman — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 03:31:15 +0000

On Tuesday 3 November 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia announced it would be lifting the cash rate by 0.25% to to 4.85%. On an average loan of $731,000, each 0.25% hike has added around $114 to monthly repayments. After five hikes, borrowers will need to find an extra $584 a month compared with the start […]

Race to quell inflation intensifies as fifth interest rate hike adds hundreds to borrowers’ mortgage bills

Sarah Orr — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 03:30:55 +0000

Melbourne Cup used to be the race that stopped the nation, but this year all eyes were on the Reserve Bank as it saddled borrowers with a fifth 0.25% rate hike – piling hundreds of dollars onto mortgage pain, according to Compare the Market. On an average loan of $731,000, each 0.25% hike has added […]

Inflation versus celebration: The cost of watching this year’s AFL and NRL grand finals

Tiana Lee-Collins — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 15:00:31 +0000

Australians who hosted guests, visited a friend’s home or watched at a pub or bar reported spending approximately $189 on average per grand final viewing occasion, as households continued to contend with elevated living costs. The findings come as new Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 3.2% over the […]

Australians are still over the moon for Luna as top dog names for 2026 revealed

Sarah Orr — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:37:57 +0000

Australian dog owners continue to swoon for Luna, with the celestial-inspired name eclipsing all others on Compare the Market’s list of Australia’s most popular dog names for the fourth year running. The annual ranking, based on thousands of pet insurance quotes, shows Luna remains top dog among Australian pet owners, ahead of Teddy, Coco, Milo […]

Kochie: Inflation data will be decisive for the next RBA rates decision

Sarah Orr — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 04:52:31 +0000

The Reserve Bank’s next cash rate decision remains finely balanced, with upcoming inflation data likely to be decisive, according to Compare the Market’s Economic Director, David “Kochie” Koch. Shock employment data showing a higher-than-expected rise in the number of jobless Australians will have given the RBA pause for thought, but Mr Koch said next week’s […]

One in five Aussies say groceries are their most worrying bill as households rethink how they shop

Phillip Portman — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:24:22 +0000

Aussies are keeping their supermarket spend under control, but that doesn’t mean prices are getting cheaper. One in five Australians (20%) say groceries are the household expense they worry about most, according to new findings from Compare the Market‘s upcoming 2026 Household Budget Barometer. This is despite the average national weekly grocery spend falling 6% […]

Australia’s best and worst states for contraception access and affordability revealed

Tiana Lee-Collins — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:48:45 +0000

Australians could be paying hundreds extra for contraception depending on their postcode, according to a new Compare the Market Australian Contraception Index. The index assessed every state and territory on affordability, out-of-pocket costs, access to family planning providers and government policy settings, revealing significant disparities across the country. South Australia has been named the best […]

Electricity bill shock: Nearly seven in 10 Australians report higher power prices, but most aren’t taking action

Phillip Portman — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 01:23:26 +0000

Australians are continuing to feel the pressure of rising electricity costs, with new research from Compare the Market revealing that almost seven in 10 people surveyed have received an electricity price increase in the past year. However, many aren’t shopping around for a better deal and could be paying more than they need to for […]

Spill the (coffee) beans: The staggering amount Aussies spend on takeaway cuppas revealed

Phillip Portman — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:06:24 +0000

Aussie coffee lovers could be forking out close to $2,000 on daily takeaway coffees each year, according to new research from Compare the Market. Ahead of World Coffee Day on 1 October, Compare the Market asked Aussies how much they spend on a single-serve coffee or hot beverage, with the average cost coming in at […]

‘Yet another gut punch’: Mortgage holders slugged an extra $5,568 a year

Sarah Orr — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 04:46:35 +0000

Average mortgage payers with a loan around $731,000 will spend roughly $5,568 more over the course of a year, now that rates are a full 1% higher than they were at the start of 2026. Average monthly repayments are now sitting around $4,502. Compare that with five years ago, when the average loan was $548,000 […]

Kochie calls on RBA governor to name and shame inflation drivers in frank open letter

Phillip Portman — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:01:27 +0000

Compare the Market‘s Economic Director David Koch has urged the Reserve Bank to explain why households should pay the price for inflation he argues has been driven by increased public sector hiring, wages and spending, in a frank open letter to Governor Michele Bullock. With economists and financial markets increasingly tipping a rate rise on […]

David Koch: An open letter to the Governor of the Reserve Bank

David Koch — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 22:27:17 +0000

Ms Michele Bullock, Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia Dear Governor, I’m writing to you publicly because millions of Australians are crying out right now… and because on 29 September a great many of them are likely to be handed a bill they did little to run up. The case your board will consider on 29 […]

Sweet showbag twist: The popular bags that are cheaper than supermarket shelves

Phillip Portman — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:51:20 +0000

South Australian families looking to avoid a royal rip-off could be in for a treat at this year’s Adelaide Show, with new Compare the Market analysis finding that showbags may not be as expensive as once thought. Showgoers could save between 4% and 37% for some popular showbags compared to buying identical products at the […]