# Kernel Economics

> Economics, explained simply. One idea at a time.

Kernel Economics is an Australian economics blog with clear, jargon-free writing on prices, markets, policy, trade, money and work: the core ideas behind the headlines. Content is general information, not financial advice.

## Sections

- [Home](https://kerneleconomics.com/): Latest posts and quick answers
- [Blog](https://kerneleconomics.com/blog/): All posts
- [About](https://kerneleconomics.com/about/): Mission and editorial approach
- [Subscribe](https://kerneleconomics.com/subscribe/): Email updates (coming soon)
- [Search](https://kerneleconomics.com/search/): Search posts
- [Prices posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/prices/)
- [Markets posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/markets/)
- [Policy posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/policy/)
- [Trade posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/trade/)
- [Money posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/money/)
- [Work posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/work/)
- [Interest Rates posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/interest-rates/)
- [Inflation posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/inflation/)
- [RBA posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/rba/)
- [Housing posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/housing/)
- [Tax posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/tax/)
- [Wages posts](https://kerneleconomics.com/tags/wages/)

## Posts

- [Why Is the RBA Raising Rates When Unemployment Is Rising?](https://kerneleconomics.com/blog/why-is-the-rba-raising-rates-when-unemployment-is-rising/): Policy, 2026-11-05. The RBA lifted the cash rate to 4.85% on 3 November 2026 while unemployment rose. Here's why: capacity pressures, inflation expectations and a close 6–3 vote.
- [The RBA Can't Fix Oil Prices. So Why Is It Acting?](https://kerneleconomics.com/blog/the-rba-cant-fix-oil-prices-so-why-is-it-acting/): Policy, 2026-11-05. The RBA Governor says monetary policy cannot impact global oil prices. So why raise rates? We explain first-round and second-round effects of a fuel shock.
- [How AI Data Centres Are Showing Up in Your Cost of Living](https://kerneleconomics.com/blog/how-ai-data-centres-are-showing-up-in-your-cost-of-living/): Markets, 2026-11-05. The RBA now names AI and data centre investment as a source of inflation. We trace the chain from chips and construction to prices, jobs and interest rates in Australia.
- [Shrinkflation, Supermarket Margins and Who Sets Grocery Prices](https://kerneleconomics.com/blog/shrinkflation-supermarket-margins-and-who-sets-grocery-prices/): Prices, 2026-11-05. Who really sets grocery prices in Australia? Shrinkflation, Coles and Woolworths' market power, and how to tell rising costs apart from rising margins, explained.
- [Tax Brackets Don't Work the Way You Think](https://kerneleconomics.com/blog/tax-brackets-dont-work-the-way-you-think/): Money, 2026-11-05. Can a pay rise push you into a higher tax bracket and leave you worse off? No. Marginal vs average tax rates explained with the 2026–27 Australian resident rates.
- [Why Your Pay Rise Doesn't Feel Like One](https://kerneleconomics.com/blog/why-your-pay-rise-doesnt-feel-like-one/): Work, 2026-11-05. Why a pay rise can still leave you worse off: real vs nominal wages, the Wage Price Index, productivity and unit labour costs, explained with RBA figures.

## About and contact

- [About Kernel Economics](https://kerneleconomics.com/about/)
- [Contact](https://kerneleconomics.com/contact/): hello@kerneleconomics.com
- [Privacy policy](https://kerneleconomics.com/privacy/)
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## Optional

- [Full site content](https://kerneleconomics.com/llms-full.txt): All posts in plain text