Takeaway coffee sales plunge as fuel and living costs dent Australian spending. Is the economy next?

For many coffee drinkers, takeaway orders are changing from a habitual purchase to an occasional treat, as elevated petrol prices and other living costs leave households feeling glum.This rapid shift in behaviour has disappointed cafe owners and surprised economists, raising an uneasy question: if takeaway coffee sales are falling, is the economy next?Changes in coffee purchases are an early indicator of consumer attitudes because Australians are generally unwilling to give up their daily habit until absolutely necessary.National Australia Bank research shows that more than 50% of consumers are cutting back on treats such as coffee and snacks, which the bank says are usually among the most resilient purchases.While the trend has been in place for a few months, it accelerated quickly when petrol prices ignited in March due to the Iran conflict.“We are hearing from cafes and restaurants around the country that they’ve seen a slowdown in what patrons are purchasing,” says Wes Lambert, chief executive of the Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association

Trump’s Fed chair pick says he’ll maintain independence – but won’t say president lost 2020 election

Donald Trump’s nominee for US Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, faced a tumultuous hearing in Washington on Tuesday, fielding scrutiny over his wealth and his ability to operate independently of the president who appointed him.Should he be confirmed, Warsh will hold one of the most powerful roles in the US federal government, with massive influence over the global economy and the ability to move markets.During a hearing before the Senate banking committee, Warsh did his best to bat away questions that he argued verged too far into “politics”.“We need to take politics out of monetary policy and monetary policy out of politics,” he told the Senate. “If I’m confirmed, the Federal Reserve should stay in its lane

Rental platform unnecessarily collected the data of millions of Australians, privacy commissioner finds

An online rental platform has been urged to stop collecting users’ personal information after the Australian privacy commissioner found the gathering of “excessive” data compounded the vulnerability of tenants amid the housing crisis.RentTech platforms are increasingly used by real estate agents in Australia for people applying for rental properties to submit applications and supporting documentation. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has identified 57 different rent platforms operating in Australia.An Ahuri report released in January found while providing personal information is necessary for rental agreements, the “over-collection of data poses significant risks to renters’ data security and privacy”.In a first-of-its-kind determination against one of the platforms, published on Wednesday, the privacy commissioner, Carly Kind, found 2Apply, operated by InspectRealEstate, had collected excessive personal information in an unfair manner

Apple’s Tim Cook leaves behind complicated legacy on privacy

In his 15 years as Apple’s top executive, Tim Cook has projected an image of the company as a champion of privacy rights. As he prepares to leave that role in September, that legacy has come back into focus. Cook trumpeted the iPhone maker’s commitment to privacy at home in the US and the EU, calling privacy “a fundamental right” but his acquiescence to government demands abroad call his dedication to protecting users into question.Cook cemented Apple’s pro-privacy reputation in 2015 when he resisted the FBI’s demands to unlock the iPhone of a mass shooter in San Bernardino, California. The company played up that public image in 2019 with playful ads that read, “Privacy

Rugby Australia ‘resets finances, restores pride’ after posting $100m turnaround

Supporters of the British and Irish Lions have given Rugby Australia a financial launchpad ahead of the men’s and women’s World Cups, driving a record $70.6m surplus in 2025.The result, helped by strong attendance at the three Lions matches and a full calendar of Tests, reverses the pain of the previous period, when RA recorded a $37m deficit.RA chief executive Phil Waugh said his organisation was delivering on its “promise to reset the game’s finances, restore pride and set a new strategic course”.“This is an historic and energising period for Australian rugby, and a record operating surplus allows us to look ahead to the future with clarity and confidence,” he said

Patriots coach Vrabel has had ‘difficult’ conversations after publication of Russini photos

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has said he has had “difficult” conversations after photographs of him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini were made public earlier this month.Russini resigned from her post at the Athletic after the New York Post published photos of her and Vrabel embracing and holding hands at an Arizona resort. The pair are married to different people and have said their relationship is platonic.Vrabel addressed the subject for the first time publicly on Tuesday.“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” Vrabel told reporters