Stephen Koukoulas

Stephen Koukoulas, economist and commentator known as 'The Kook', provides quick, sharp analysis on monetary policy, inflation and the labour market. He previews the December CPI and why the trimmed mean matters. He discusses strong jobs data, labour-market pressure on rates, and the key inflation components to watch this quarter.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist and commentator known as 'The Kook', offers a concise macro view. He previews December household spending and what it reveals about consumer strength. He breaks down lending data and first‑home buyer impacts. He discusses capital gains tax changes, political barriers to fiscal reform, and why the RBA shifted to hiking rates.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist and commentator known as 'The Kook', offers macroeconomic analysis in a brisk weekly preview. He unpacks the RBA's 5-4 split on rates. He explains how the worsening oil-price shock hits households and supply chains. He reviews building approvals, house-price trends and job vacancies for the week ahead.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist and commentator known as 'The Kook', offers quick macro reads and forecasting. He discusses the limits of monthly inflation data and why RBA watches quarterly trends. He weighs how the Middle East oil shock changes interpretation of February figures and explains why petrol spikes can both slow spending and hit GDP growth.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist and commentator known as 'The Kook', offers macroeconomic analysis. He discusses the RBA board's likely hawkish tilt and who might push for a rate hike. He explains why oil price swings matter for inflation and policymaking. He previews how this week's labour force figures could shape monetary decisions.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist and commentator behind The Kook, offers crisp macro forecasts for Australia. He covers expected December-quarter GDP and which components really drive growth. He discusses per-capita GDP and living standards. He weighs the RBA's inflation versus jobs trade-offs. He previews household spending patterns and what building approvals signal for future supply.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist and macro commentator behind thekouk.com. He breaks down what a single-month CPI move can and cannot tell us. He highlights the inflation components the RBA watches and how exchange rates and imports shape prices. He explores business investment trends like data-centre capex and how machinery spending affects productivity, jobs and wages.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist known for macro analysis, explains the week's big data: labour force figures, wages and RBA policy. Short takes on why monthly employment can jump around. Quick clarity on what the Wage Price Index actually measures. Looks at real wages, productivity and what would (and would not) spark a wage-price spiral.

Stephen Koukoulas, economist known for sharp macro commentary at thekuk.com. He breaks down the RBA’s timing dilemma on a potential rate rise. He explains why a hold with a hawkish tone is possible. He explores inflation measures, global market risks and who feels any hike first.

Join economist Stephen Koukoulas, known as 'The Kook' for his insightful commentary on macroeconomic trends, as he dives into the complexities of today’s economy. He explains the impactful distortions of Black Friday on inflation data and discusses the rise in household spending linked to improved cash flow. Koukoulas also highlights what businesses should monitor in 2026, urging them to focus on economic activity and consumer confidence rather than inflation fears. Finally, he unpacks the current state of the housing market and its limited downside risks.