Friday, and the number that sets the RBA tone for the rest of August drops at 11:30am AEST. The ABS releases the July Labour Force Survey this morning with Trading Economics forecasting unemployment at 4 point 5 per cent, up from June’s 4 point 4 per cent, alongside participation at a 12 month high of 67 point 0 per cent and 76,300 extra jobs added the month prior. Yesterday Telstra Group FY26 delivered underlying EBITDAaL of 8 point 3 billion dollars near the top of guidance, a full year dividend of 21 cents per share up 10 point 5 per cent, and a fresh 1 billion dollar share buyback, yet shares still slid 5 point 2 per cent intraday to 4 dollars 74 cents on softer FY27 revenue signals and postpaid subscriber pressure. This is the final winter clearance weekend at Australian retailers, with spring floor sets landing Monday 18 August. Today’s Top 5 opens with Dusk at up to 80 per cent off candles and home fragrance, followed by Showpo at up to 80 per cent off womens fashion and UGG Express at up to 80 per cent off sheepskin boots.
July Jobs Print Today at 11:30am AEST
The Australian Bureau of Statistics releases the July Labour Force Survey this morning at 11:30am AEST, per the ABS Labour Force calendar. June printed at 4 point 4 per cent unemployment (unrounded 4 point 35 per cent) with 76,300 more people in work month on month, the largest monthly employment gain since April last year per Reuters coverage of the June release. Participation lifted to a one year high of 67 point 0 per cent. Trading Economics forecasts July at 4 point 5 per cent, up 0 point 1 percentage point.
The consequence chain for Australian shopper households runs through interest rates. On Tuesday the RBA held the cash rate at 4 point 35 per cent but Governor Bullock struck a hawkish tone, warning it was quite possible the RBA might need to go and that interest rates might need to stay high for longer. Swap markets now price a real chance of a November hike. If July prints AT OR ABOVE 4 point 5 per cent, weakening jobs momentum removes wage inflation pressure and pushes November hike odds materially lower, giving 3 point 3 million mortgaged households a clearer glide path. If July prints BELOW 4 point 4 per cent with continued strong employment growth, the RBA’s hawkish stance converts into a real November move and household budgets tighten into Christmas. Watch three sub-numbers alongside the headline: participation rate (record highs signal hidden strength), hours worked (softening signals hiring restraint), and underemployment (June’s 6 point 5 per cent was the highest since August 2024). All three together tell the fuller story.
Telstra FY26 Aftermath: Buyback Rewarded, Share Price Punished
Yesterday Telstra Group landed FY26 with underlying EBITDAaL of 8 point 3 billion dollars, up 4 per cent and near the top of the 8 point 2 to 8 point 4 billion dollar guidance range, per Market Index coverage. Reported net profit after tax was 2 point 4 billion dollars, up 2 point 7 per cent, and cash earnings per share climbed 14 per cent to 25 point 5 cents. The board declared a final dividend of 10 point 5 cents per share 90 point 5 per cent franked, taking the FY26 total to 21 cents per share, up 10 point 5 per cent year on year. On top of that, Telstra announced a fresh 1 billion dollar on-market share buyback. Despite the shareholder friendly announcements, per The Motley Fool Australia, shares opened at 4 dollars 95 cents, hit an intraday low of 4 dollars 74 cents (down 5 point 2 per cent), and closed at 4 dollars 82 cents, down 3 point 2 per cent on the day.
What went wrong for the share price. Group revenue slipped 0 point 8 per cent to 22 point 9 billion dollars, per Rask Media’s FY26 breakdown. Fixed enterprise EBITDA fell 16 point 7 per cent as data and connectivity margins compressed. Investors also weighed subscriber pressure in branded postpaid mobile following the July 2025 price hikes, the lingering impact of the July 2024 network outage that cost CEO Vicki Brady 607,000 dollars of her bonus per IG’s afternoon market report, and elevated capital spending requirements. FY27 EBITDAaL guidance of 8 point 5 to 8 point 8 billion dollars implies only 1 point 9 to 5 point 5 per cent growth, softer than the market wanted. Approximately 1 point 5 million Telstra retail shareholders now have a diary date: Telstra ex-dividend date is Tuesday 26 August 2026, 12 days from today. Record date is Wednesday 27 August. Payment date is Thursday 24 September, per The Motley Fool’s dividend explainer. For Telstra mobile customers the practical takeaway is that FY27 revenue guidance implies continued postpaid ARPU discipline but no headline price rise cliff, and now is a good weekend to check if a competitor plan on the same tower undercuts your current bill by 10 dollars or more per month.
Last Winter Clearance Weekend: Two Days To Buy the Coat
Today, tomorrow Saturday 15 August and Sunday 16 August are the final three full-choice days for winter stock at major Australian fashion, footwear and homewares retailers. From Monday 18 August, spring floor sets land in stores and remaining winter stock is pulled to warehouse or online-only clearance pages. Practically this means: the coat rack you saw last week at 40 per cent off is at 60 per cent off today and 70 to 80 per cent off by Sunday afternoon, but the size and colour choice narrows every hour. By Monday morning, the wall becomes lightweight jackets, transitional knits, spring dresses and pastel tees. This weekend is when the year’s deepest sale prices on winter woollens, sheepskin boots, heavy denim, thermals, doonas and throws converge with the last of the pre-transition size range.
Weekend tactical actions for Australian shopper households. First, prioritise categories that get pulled Monday: heavy coats, chunky knits, sheepskin boots, thermals, flannel sheets, winter doonas. Second, size up before you size down. If your usual size is a Medium, check Large first because the popular sizes go first at the deepest discounts. Third, buy 12 months ahead for kids’ winter uniforms and school jackets. Australian retailers rarely repeat the same discount depth on winter stock until the following July clearance. Fourth, keep receipts and tags on: most stores extend change of mind exchanges through the transition period, but each has its own window. Fifth, if the store lists free Australia wide shipping over a threshold (Dusk from 89 dollars, Showpo from 50 dollars, UGG Express from 100 dollars, Merchant 1948 from 150 dollars, most others from 100 to 150 dollars), combine winter picks with a spring transition piece to hit free freight and avoid the courier fee.
Fuel Day 12: Peak Likely Past
Today is Day 12 of full fuel excise restoration. Petroleum tax jumped from 20 point 6 cents per litre in April to June, to 36 point 6 cents per litre between 1 July and 2 August (partial), to the full 53 point 7 cents per litre from 3 August, per the Australian Taxation Office. The ACCC 22nd weekly fuel price monitoring report to 5 August showed 5-city retail petrol at 207 point 5 cents per litre and diesel at 246 cents per litre. The ACCC 23rd weekly report is expected today and will confirm whether the retail petrol cycle peaked earlier this week, per FuelPlan.gov.au. Retail petrol should now be trending gently down through the weekend as service stations shed the peak day margin.
Friday weekend tactical actions for Australian drivers. First, before you leave the driveway check Fuel Check NSW, FuelWatch WA, FuelCheck TAS, MyFuel NT, MotorMouth or PetrolSpy. Metro cheapest to most expensive gaps remain wide at 40 to 60 cents per litre through weekend cycles. Second, if your vehicle handbook allows a grade drop from Premium 98 to U91 or E10, NRMA data has the grade spread at a record 26 point 5 cents per litre. On a 55-litre fill that is 14 dollars 60 cents saved per tank. Third, delay a full tank until Sunday or early Monday. If the retail cycle peaked Wednesday or Thursday, Sunday afternoon should be 5 to 8 cents per litre below Friday morning at the same station. On 55 litres that is 3 to 4 dollars per fill.
Friday Top 5 Deals
Discount
DuskCandles & HomewaresUp to 80 per cent off Dusk: scented candles, diffusers, home fragrance, wax melts, lanterns and homewares from the Australian owned home fragrance retailer since 2000 with more than 130 Australian stores, Afterpay, Zip and free Australia wide shipping over 89 dollars.80%OFF2
ShowpoWomen's WearUp to 80 per cent off Showpo: dresses, tops, bottoms, denim, coats, knits, activewear and accessories from the Sydney founded Australian womens fashion retailer since 2010, with Afterpay, Zip, Klarna and free Australia wide shipping over 50 dollars.80%OFF3
UGG ExpressUgg BootsUp to 80 per cent off UGG Express: classic UGG boots, mini boots, tall boots, slippers, moccasins, kids and mens sheepskin footwear from the Australian sheepskin footwear specialist, with Afterpay, Zip and free Australia wide shipping over 100 dollars.80%OFF4
Nine WestFootwearUp to 60 per cent off Nine West: heels, flats, boots, ankle boots, sneakers, sandals and handbags from the American heritage footwear brand with a strong Australian retail footprint, Afterpay, Zip and free Australia wide shipping over 100 dollars.60%OFF5
EckersleysArt & CraftUp to 50 per cent off Eckersleys: art supplies, canvases, paints, brushes, papers, sketchbooks, craft materials and framing from the Australian owned art and craft specialist since 1892 with retail stores across the country, Afterpay and Zip available.50%OFFEvery store in Friday’s Top 5 is Australian owned or locally fulfilled. Every discount was verified against the store’s own live sale page this morning. None of it is Temu, Shein, AliExpress, Wish or any offshore marketplace dressed up as a local brand. Every product ships from an Australian warehouse and is backed by the Australian Consumer Law. Dusk leads today at up to 80 per cent off scented candles, diffusers, home fragrance, wax melts and lanterns from the Australian owned home fragrance retailer since 2000 with more than 130 stores across the country. Showpo follows at up to 80 per cent off dresses, tops, denim, coats and knits from the Sydney founded Australian womens fashion retailer since 2010. UGG Express at up to 80 per cent off delivers classic and mini UGG boots, tall boots, slippers, moccasins and kids and mens sheepskin footwear. Nine West at up to 60 per cent off runs across heels, flats, ankle boots, sneakers, sandals and handbags. Eckersleys at up to 50 per cent off closes the Top 5 with art supplies, canvases, paints, brushes, papers, sketchbooks and craft materials from the Australian owned art and craft specialist since 1892.
Other Deals Worth A Look
Beyond the Top 5, a handful of other Australian owned or locally fulfilled retailers are worth a Friday scroll. P.E Nation (today’s Top 6 ticker pick) holds 30 per cent off across technical activewear, hoodies, joggers, tees and matching sets from the Sydney founded contemporary activewear label. UGG continues at 30 per cent off classic sheepskin boots and slippers. Veronika Maine holds 30 per cent off tailoring, dresses and coats from the Sydney founded contemporary womens label. All Australian owned or locally fulfilled, all backed by the Australian Consumer Law.
Week Ahead
Three dates matter for Australian shopper wallets across the coming week. Today Friday 14 August 11:30am AEST: ABS July Labour Force Survey release, Trading Economics forecast 4 point 5 per cent unemployment up 0 point 1 percentage point. Saturday 15 August and Sunday 16 August: final winter clearance weekend at Australian fashion, footwear and homewares retailers, spring floor sets land Monday 18 August. Tuesday 26 August: Telstra ex-dividend date, 10 point 5 cents fully franked (90 point 5 per cent franked) final dividend paid 24 September. Thursday 21 August: CBA DRP election deadline for the 5 dollars 5 cents fully franked dividend that pays 29 September.
Our Take
Friday 14 August is the day the ABS releases the single most important data point for the RBA’s November decision. If unemployment prints at 4 point 5 per cent as Trading Economics forecasts, mortgage relief moves closer and household discretionary spending gets a slow tailwind into Christmas. If it prints lower with continued strong employment growth, hawkish RBA rhetoric converts into a real fourth rate rise this year. Yesterday Telstra rewarded shareholders with a 21 cent full year dividend and a 1 billion dollar buyback, but shares still fell 5 per cent on softer FY27 revenue guidance. This is the FINAL WEEKEND for winter clearance at Australian retailers. From Monday 18 August, spring floor sets replace winter stock and today’s headline discounts on remaining coats, knits, boots, thermals and doonas are the deepest and last full-choice window of the year. If a winter jacket, boots, thermals or a heavier knit is still on the wardrobe list, this weekend is the deadline.
That is exactly why It’s On Sale exists. We track 35,000 Australian stores and 45,000 live sale products, every retailer Australian owned or locally fulfilled, every promotion audited daily against the store’s own price history. No trial traps, no hidden fees, no offshore marketplaces dressed up as a local brand. Today’s Sales shows every store currently running a discount in one place. The AI search reads the way real shoppers ask (try “winter coat clearance” or “candles on sale”). None of it is Temu, Shein, AliExpress, Wish or any offshore marketplace dressed up as a local brand. Browse Today’s Sales this Friday morning to hit the final winter clearance weekend at Australian retailers who stand behind the ticket and the Australian Consumer Law.