The Times Australia
Business and Money
The Times Real Estate

.

Worried about price gouging? For banks, there’s a simple solution

  • Written by Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

Does it feel like you’re being charged more for all sorts of things these days, from groceries[1] to banking[2]? Turns out, you’re right.

While we might be more likely to remember prices that go up than prices that go down, the very best evidence – assembled by Australia’s Treasury[3], the federal government’s lead economic adviser – says your suspicions are right. We really are being charged more than we used to be two decades ago.

Coupled with the latest profit reports from Australia’s biggest supermarkets and banks, including Tuesday’s half-year results from Coles, it suggests we are contributing more to company profits than we used to.

Climbing price markups

The Treasury estimates show in the 13 years between 2003-04 and 2016-17, the average price markup – the difference between the cost of a product and its selling price – across all Australian industries climbed 6%.

That’s extra profit, taken from your wallet, going to the people selling you things.

Those Treasury estimates are contained in a background paper prepared for the competition inquiry[4] being undertaken by a panel including Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood, former Competition and Consumer Commission chief Rod Sims, and business leader David Gonski.

At the same time, the average share of each industry held by its biggest four firms edged up from 41% to 43%.

Read more: See when Australia's biggest banks stopped paying proper interest on your savings – and what you can do about it[5]

Profit margins are also higher here than in more competitive markets overseas.

This is true in banking, where the big four have taken over St George, BankWest, and the Bank of Melbourne – and are about to take over Suncorp[6].

It’s also true in supermarkets, where the big two, Woolworths and Coles, have taken over or seen off Franklins, Bi-Lo and Safeway.

Bigger profit margins than overseas

Coles supermarkets reported earnings before adjustments[7] of A$1.73 billion[8] on sales of $19.778 billion in the half year to December – a profit margin of 8.7%.

Photo of Sainsbury's shopping trollies
Sainsbury’s operates on lower margins than Coles or Woolworths. Shutterstock[9]

Last week, Woolworths supermarkets reported earnings of $2.45 billion[10] on sales of $25.648 billion – a margin of 9.6%.

By way of comparison, the dominant UK supermarket group, Sainsbury’s, has a profit margin of 6.13%[11].

In banking, the Commonwealth Bank has just reported a return on equity (profit as a proportion of shareholders’ funds) of 13.8%[12]. National Australia Bank reported 12.9%[13].

While on a par with the big banks overseas, those recent returns are a good deal higher than CommBank’s 11.5%[14] and NAB’s 10.7%[15] reported two years ago.

Little hope for groceries

For supermarkets, there’s not a lot the government can do, apart from launching an inquiry[16], and perhaps giving Australian authorities the power to break up[17] firms that abuse their market power.

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he isn’t keen on giving Australian authorities the sort of powers available to authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom, saying (incongruously) Australia is “not the old Soviet Union[18]”.

And doing anything short of that would be unlikely to have much effect. Australia’s two supermarket giants have invested a fortune in high-tech warehouses and distribution systems[19], which new rivals would be hard-pressed to match.

Hope for more competitive banking

But for banks it’s altogether different. Richard Denniss of the Australia Institute has come up with the idea, and it’s a beauty.

It’s for the government to provide a low-cost banking service – expanding on services it already offers.

The costs would be so low, other banks might decide to add features and resell them in the same way as resellers sell mobile phone[20] and NBN[21] services.

The primary function of any bank is to provide a numbered account into which Australians can deposit and withdraw funds.

The Australian Tax Office does this already, at an incredibly low cost.

The tax office gives every working Australian a tax file number[22]. Employers deposit money into these accounts, and – should the tax office owe a refund – taxpayers withdraw them.

Some taxpayers ensure their tax is overpaid[23], so they withdraw later.

Denniss describes it as a bank account with the world’s clumsiest interface.

The government could offer bank loans

It wouldn’t be much of a stretch from improving that interface to offering government loans.

In fact, government loans are already provided in some circumstances: such as to retirees with home equity through the home equity access scheme[24], and to Centrelink recipients through advance payments[25].

It woudn’t be much more of stretch to provide loans more broadly, at an incredibly low administrative cost. The government already lends against the value of homes[26].

Commonwealth Bank exterior, 1913 The government could get back into the business of banking. CommBank[27]

Back in the days when the federal government owned the Commonwealth Bank[28], it had to cover the high costs of running bricks and mortar branches.

Freed from those costs, the government could now offer a low-cost, technology-enabled basic banking service that would tempt us away from the big four banks – unless they offered better value.

Of course it would cost money, although a lot of it has already been spent setting up the system of tax file numbers and accounts. And of course the banks would hate the idea. That would be the point.

But doing what we can to stop Australians being overcharged is important, not only for wage earners but also for businesses.

The competition inquiry[29] the government has launched is a good start. It shouldn’t be frightened about where it might lead.

References

  1. ^ groceries (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ banking (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ Treasury (treasury.gov.au)
  4. ^ inquiry (treasury.gov.au)
  5. ^ See when Australia's biggest banks stopped paying proper interest on your savings – and what you can do about it (theconversation.com)
  6. ^ Suncorp (www.accc.gov.au)
  7. ^ before adjustments (www.investopedia.com)
  8. ^ A$1.73 billion (cdn-api.markitdigital.com)
  9. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  10. ^ $2.45 billion (cdn-api.markitdigital.com)
  11. ^ 6.13% (stockanalysis.com)
  12. ^ 13.8% (cdn-api.markitdigital.com)
  13. ^ 12.9% (www.nab.com.au)
  14. ^ 11.5% (www.commbank.com.au)
  15. ^ 10.7% (www.nab.com.au)
  16. ^ inquiry (www.accc.gov.au)
  17. ^ break up (www.afr.com)
  18. ^ not the old Soviet Union (www.pm.gov.au)
  19. ^ warehouses and distribution systems (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ mobile phone (www.whistleout.com.au)
  21. ^ NBN (www.nbnco.com.au)
  22. ^ tax file number (www.ato.gov.au)
  23. ^ overpaid (www.ato.gov.au)
  24. ^ home equity access scheme (www.dss.gov.au)
  25. ^ advance payments (www.servicesaustralia.gov.au)
  26. ^ value of homes (www.servicesaustralia.gov.au)
  27. ^ CommBank (www.commbank.com.au)
  28. ^ Commonwealth Bank (www.commbank.com.au)
  29. ^ competition inquiry (treasury.gov.au)

Authors: Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

Read more https://theconversation.com/worried-about-price-gouging-for-banks-theres-a-simple-solution-223821

SME Business News

Why is a Commercial Vacuum Cleaner Better?

Maintaining a pristine work area isn't just about aesthetics—it's about fostering an atmosphere of contentment, wellness, and awe-inspiring wholesomeness. Be it an office, a retail outlet, or a...

Why 20% of workers don't feel safe in their workplace

80% OF AUSTRALIAN WORKERS FEEL THEIR COMPANY PRIORITISES HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE, BUT WHY NOT 100%? COS shares innovative solutions to keep staff healthy, safe and productive A...

Albanese government looking to acquire Rex Airlines if buyer can’t be found

The Albanese government will on Wednesday announce it is willing, as a last resort, to purchase the collapsed Rex Airlines, in its latest bid to prop up aviation services to regional and remo...

The Legal Battle Against IP Theft: What Businesses Need to Know

So you've formulated that million-dollar idea and you're ready to take your business to the next level. You were so excited to publicize your supposedly next big thing that you went on TikTok...

The Times Features

Brisbane Homeowners Warned: Non-Compliant Flexible Hoses Pose High Flood Risk

As a homeowner in Brisbane, when you think of the potential for flood damage to your home, you probably think of weather events. But you should know that there may be a tickin...

Argan Oil-Infused Moroccanoil Shampoo: Nourish and Revitalize Your Hair

Are you ready to transform your hair from dull and lifeless to vibrant and full of life? Look no further than the luxurious embrace of Argan Oil-Infused Moroccanoil Shampoo! In a...

Building A Strong Foundation For Any Structure

Building a home or commercial building can be very exciting. The possibilities are endless and the future is interesting. You can always change aspects of the building to meet the ...

The Role of a Family Dentist: Why Every Household Needs One

source A family dentist isn’t like your regular dentist who may specialise in a particular age group and whom you visit only when something goes wrong. A family dentist takes proa...

Benefits of Getting an Online Medical Certificate

Everyone has experienced it. Rather than taking a break, you drag yourself to the doctor's office, where you have to wait in lengthy lines, and then you have to hurry to get that...

10 Must-See Townsville Spots with Car Hire

Key Highlights Explore Townsville and its surrounding areas with ease by opting for a car hire upon your arrival at Townsville Airport. From the vibrant waterfront of The Str...

Business Times

Why is a Commercial Vacuum Cleaner Better?

Maintaining a pristine work area isn't just about aesthetics—it's about fostering an atmosphere of contentment, wellness, a...

Why 20% of workers don't feel safe in their workplace

80% OF AUSTRALIAN WORKERS FEEL THEIR COMPANY PRIORITISES HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE, BUT WHY NOT 100%? COS shar...

Albanese government looking to acquire Rex Airlines if buyer can’…

The Albanese government will on Wednesday announce it is willing, as a last resort, to purchase the collapsed Rex Airline...

LayBy Shopping