
Watch Stephen Walters speak about all things rate cuts, tax, productivity, inflation and more...

Stephen Walters features in AFR article talking about recent challenges driving inflation

Stephen Walters features in AFR, written by Economics Editor, John Kehoe

Stephen Walters features in the Oz, written by Matthew Cranston: The economy could find itself ‘boxed in’ by capacity constraints, bringing higher inflation and subdued growth, Reserve Bank deputy governor Andrew Hauser tells investors.

Stephen Walters features in the AFR, written by Luke Kinsella.
"It did strike me that [Bullock] didn't discuss one of the major reasons that inflation had popped up again," said Walters, director of Optimal Economics. "She managed to step around that quite adroitly, but I was a bit surprised she was that determined not to talk about fiscal policy."

Stephen Walters features in Briana Shepherds' ABC article after being comissioned by Animals Australia to compile a cost-benefit analysis on the WA greyhound industry - which concluded the industry is to lose more than $36 million in economic value this year due to greyhound racing.

Stephen Walters from Optimal Economics outlines a deteriorating backdrop for the Reserve Bank of Australia, with both consumer and business confidence sliding to what he regards as recession‑like levels. Walters highlights a 12% monthly drop in consumer sentiment and a sharp fall in the NAB business survey to -29, pointing to the petrol price spike and the March rate hike as key headwinds. He stresses that households are already feeling the impact, even before second‑round effects from higher oil prices flow through to construction materials, housing, plastics, fertilisers and food.


Stephen Walters writes for the Canberra Times, 11 June 2026, in his capacity as senior research fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS).
He discusses our current malaise, as demonstrated by last week's sobering National Accounts - falling productivity and living standards, weak GDP growth and worse to come in Q2, thanks to the fallout from the war in Iran.
Check out Stephen Walters speaking to Andrew Geoghegan at AusBiz, 22 October 2020.
Weekly Economic Update 6 March 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 20 March 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 27 March 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 10 April 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 17 April 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 24 April 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 1 May 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 8 May 2026 (pdf)
DownloadFederal Budget 2026 - Optimal Economics Report (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 15 May 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 22 May 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 29 May 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 5 June 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update 12 June 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWeekly Economic Update June 19 2026 (pdf)
DownloadWe use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.