Positive signs for retail

Positive signs as retail trade figures improve in August The National Retail Association (NRA) has said that there are positive...

Positive signs as retail trade figures improve in August The National Retail Association (NRA) has said that there are positive signs that the state of retail is improving following the August trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Following a poor showing in July, the ABS report...

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The real cost of surcharging

Written by Dominique Lamb, CEO, NRA Adding a surcharge to card payments is a contentious business practice. Generally speaking, it...

Written by Dominique Lamb, CEO, NRA Adding a surcharge to card payments is a contentious business practice. Generally speaking, it needlessly annoys customers and compromises loyalty to your business. That’s why most businesses don’t surcharge. From September 1 this year, the Reserve Bank’s new surcharging rules will apply to small and...

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Message from the CEO: 19 December 2016

I know that you are all operating at a frantic pace in the days leading up to Christmas and...

I know that you are all operating at a frantic pace in the days leading up to Christmas and I have been pleased to see the increase in foot traffic throughout the nation as I travel around. Since my appointment as NRA CEO in July this year, I have greatly...

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Message from the CEO: 31 October 2016

It’s shaping up as possibly the most significant week for retail industry data, as we look for indications of...

It’s shaping up as possibly the most significant week for retail industry data, as we look for indications of the upcoming pre-Christmas period.  Firstly, the Reserve Bank Board will meet tomorrow for its regular discussion of monetary policy. And while general financial industry talk is playing down the chances...

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Message from the CEO: 12 September 2016

This coming Wednesday evening September 14, the National Retail Association is eagerly anticipating one of our hallmark events for...

This coming Wednesday evening September 14, the National Retail Association is eagerly anticipating one of our hallmark events for the year, with our Rewards for Excellence Gala Dinner occurring at the Sofitel Sydney. It promises to be a spectacular event, with winners to be announced in several award categories. Rewards...

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Message from the CEO: 8 August 2016

Last week saw two lots of major news for the retail sector, and overall it was a mixed bag....

Last week saw two lots of major news for the retail sector, and overall it was a mixed bag. Tuesday’s announcement by the Reserve Bank of a cut to official interest was good news at first glance, even though it carried the underlying warning from the RBA of weakness...

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The next generation $5 banknote is coming

The Reserve Bank is preparing to release the next generation of Australian banknotes. This involves gradually transitioning all denominations...

The Reserve Bank is preparing to release the next generation of Australian banknotes. This involves gradually transitioning all denominations of banknotes to new designs, with upgraded security features, an innovative tactile function to assist the vision-impaired community and reduce counterfeiting. The first of these next generation banknotes is the new...

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Review of card payments regulations

As a result of a review of the regulatory framework for card payments conducted last year by the Reserve...

As a result of a review of the regulatory framework for card payments conducted last year by the Reserve Bank, the Federal Government recently announced draft legislation that will insert a ban on surcharging in excess of merchant costs into the Competition and Consumer Act (2010). The Reserve Bank recently...

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Message from the CEO: 16th October 2015

Analysts were saying that the next move in interest rates would be upwards and we saw evidence of that...

Analysts were saying that the next move in interest rates would be upwards and we saw evidence of that this week – not from the Reserve Bank, but from Westpac, which announced a 0.2 per cent increase in its variable rate mortgage. It’s not the first bank to nudge...

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