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What will the 2026 Australian card surcharge ban mean for SMEs if the surcharge disappears but the cost of accepting card payments does not? On 1 October 2026, the way…
Continue readingHow can thought leadership research become a long-term source of market authority, trust and new business?Our experience with the Fifth Quadrant SME Sentiment Tracker shows how a six-month COVID research…
Continue readingNew Fifth Quadrant tracking shows that wellbeing in Australia is under pressure, with Australians feeling less positive about their health, but age alone does not explain the shift. Health, financial…
Continue readingHow are rising wage costs and weakening confidence affecting Australian SMEs in July? SME July 2026: SME confidence weakened again in July as renewed geopolitical tensions and ongoing cost pressures…
Continue readingHow is healthcare affordability in Australia changing when, where and how consumers seek medical care? Cost-of-living pressure is no longer confined to discretionary spending. For many Australians, it is now…
Continue readingWhy is happiness declining in Australia in 2026 and what does the shift mean for businesses and brands? Australians’ overall happiness has softened in 2026, with pressure extending beyond financial…
Continue readingWhy are Australian small businesses becoming less focused on growth despite improving economic confidence? SME June 2026: SME sentiment toward both the Australian and global economy recovered in June, suggesting…
Continue readingUpdates to this research are published monthly. SME May 2026: Revenue performance is becoming increasingly polarised, with 25% of SMEs reporting growth, the highest level since November, while 38% reported…
Continue readingHas the Federal Budget 2026 given Australian SMEs confidence to invest, grow and hire, or has it missed the mark? When Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the Federal Budget 2026, the…
Continue readingFederal Budget 2026: The Disengagement Reality For weeks politicians and media had called it the most consequential Budget in at least a decade. A fundamental reset of the investment landscape….
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