Consumers

Australian cosmetics giant MCoBeauty has attracted global attention for its strikingly similar beauty dupes, but the company has kept the details of its product development process out of the spotlight — until now.

Small beauty entrepreneurs say they are struggling to stop copies of their cosmetics being released because they don't have the legal budgets to fight big companies that are self-confessed dupers.

There's more bill pain underway for households, but it's businesses that will bear the brunt of the latest gas crisis rippling through Australia's south-eastern states in the dead of winter.

If inflation keeps sinking when the official quarterly figures are released next month, it'll be doubly good news for stretched households. It'll mean slower price rises, and probably an end to talk of further interest rate rises.

Gas prices return to crisis highs as cold weather, a lack of renewable energy and plant outages smash the east coast market. 

Across Australia, a huge, forced migration is underway as consumers are shunted on to complex power prices. Just don't expect anyone to tell you about it.

Cathy Clemow wants her town to adopt a banking model that turns the community and customers into shareholders and caretakers of residents' finances. 

The body that sets the rules in Australia's biggest electricity markets acknowledges worries about complex power prices as it launches review.

Estimates for gas and energy bills has been a common practice across Australia for years, but many people don't know to check. 

The price of blueberries has soared around the nation, and strawberry prices look set to follow.

Citrus Australia estimates international orange concentrate imports halved this year as the result of a huge global shortage, and it might see mandarin and even struggling grape growers step up.

Across Australia, huge numbers of consumers are slowly waking up to the presence of mysterious new power charges on their bills. 

The annual rate of inflation has ticked up slightly in April to 3.6 per cent, from 3.5 per cent in March, but economists say it's enough to put even more pressure on the Reserve Bank.

While the cost of living crisis continues in Australia, there is some relief on its way from July. 

On a recent visit to Tokyo, a New South Wales farmer was shocked to find Australian beef selling for less than you can find it in Coles and Woolworths.

Many Australian consumers are unaware of the extent of personal data being collected about them on a day-to-day basis, says a new report. 

When Jo O'Brien lost $500,000 to a scammer, she set out to track him down, eventually finding the man she believed was responsible. She sent him a text.

Power companies are skirting their obligations to warn households about major changes to the way they are charged for electricity courtesy of a "loophole" in Australia's energy rules.

Australian chickpea prices have surged beyond $1,000 per tonne after India dumped tariffs it put in place during 2017.

After three budget updates in which Jim Chalmers has spent less than previously forecast, in this next budget, for at least some of the years for which he will produce projections, he will spend more.

Complex tariffs supposed to help make the grid more efficient have backfired badly for Cameron Boscacci's business, sparking a radical move to save him thousands on peak power charges. 

What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work?

Telcos will be forced to share real-time network information during outages and set up a body to take charge of Australia's triple-0 system, in the wake of last year's Optus outage. 

For decades a backer of so-called cost reflective power pricing, the Australian Energy Regulator has acknowledged major problems with the roll-out of complex tariffs.

A Wagyu steak with "a satisfying silky mouthfeel" and 60 per cent marbling has been crowned Grand Champion at Australia's annual Wagyu Branded Beef Competition.