Cost of Living 31 March 2026

HSBC’s $38,000-a-Child Hong Kong Perk Is in the Crosshairs as Cost Cuts Bite
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HSBC’s $38,000-a-Child Hong Kong Perk Is in the Crosshairs as Cost Cuts Bite

HSBC Holdings Plc is taking another look at a decades-old perk for its Hong Kong bankers—one that covers private school tuition—Bloomberg News reported Monday, citing people with knowledge of the situation. Chief Executive Georges Elhedery is behind the broader cost-cutting drive that’s also targeting benefit standardisation. Among the options on the table: ending the subsidy for those joining the bank in future, or making tweaks to overall pay packages, according to the report. The timing’s key here. HSBC will post its first-quarter numbers at noon Hong Kong time on May 5, letting investors see if the bank is managing to control costs and still defend returns in its biggest profit market.
April 27, 2026
National Australia Bank Says Cost-of-Living Stress Hits 12-Year High as Australians Switch and Spend Less
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National Australia Bank Says Cost-of-Living Stress Hits 12-Year High as Australians Switch and Spend Less

National Australia Bank flagged on Monday that Australian households are facing their highest cost-of-living stress in more than ten years. Its Consumer Stress Index—a measure tracking pressures related to jobs, health, retirement, expenses, and policy—hit 59.1 for the March quarter. The cost-of-living element surged to 71.8, a level not seen since 2014, as households cut back, hunted for cheaper deals, and delayed major purchases. The reading comes just as borrowers are digesting the Reserve Bank of Australia’s March 17 move to bump the cash rate up 25 basis points to 4.10%. Following suit, NAB has raised variable home-loan rates by the same margin as of March 27. The timing is crucial for banks, with bigger repayments now meeting a notable
March 31, 2026