Fears that Australia would enter a technical recession during 2023 didn't eventuate. But that's all thanks to a much higher than anticipated migration surge, as more than half a million people moved here during the year, bumping up total demand even as per capita consumption fell. For many, life in 2023 certainly felt recession-like as Australians faced more interest rate hikes, a rising tax bill and a still-increasing cost of living that again outpaced wage growth. Yet Australia's unemployment rate remained virtually unchanged near 50-year lows and property prices shrugged off rate rises to resume growing back to ... (full story)