![Why pain and hardship are on the way](https://media.businessdesk.co.nz/file/c_fill,h_393,w_700,q_100/Hardship-pain-sad-student-young-person-getty.webp)
Economy
Cameron Bagrie: Why pain and hardship are on the way
Expect heavy hits to construction, profits, employment and the cost of living.
![Alarm bells are ringing, but is anybody listening?](https://media.businessdesk.co.nz/file/c_fill,h_400,w_600,q_100/fire-engine-getty.webp)
Economy
Cameron Bagrie: Alarm bells are ringing, but is anybody listening?
Send in the fire engines before the inflation fire is stoked any higher. Too often we kick ideas around and nothing happens.
![Banks are close to making $10b in profits, but do they deserve it?](https://media.businessdesk.co.nz/file/c_fill,h_400,w_600,q_100/Two-way-street_unsplash.webp)
Finance
Cameron Bagrie: Banks are close to making $10b in profits, but do they deserve it?
Yes, we want banks to be profitable, but are they too cautious? We need lenders to be both prudent – and a lot braver.
![It's a popcorn economy and we're a B-movie](https://media.businessdesk.co.nz/file/c_fill,h_400,w_600,q_100/popcorn-Getty.webp)
Finance
Cameron Bagrie: It's a popcorn economy and we're a B-movie
The current account is our national chequebook with the rest of the world – and we've got a whopping deficit.