‘Worse than COVID’: How local shops are feeling the economic downturn

A woman sitting on a bench outside holding a mug.

Rising costs, fuel prices and bushfire-related closures are pushing regional Victoria’s small businesses to the brink, with owners saying they are struggling to stay open. The Reserve Bank raised interest rates by 0.25 percent on March 17, adding to the pressure on already struggling businesses. Since then, some workers say fewer people are going out … Read more