Mark Thirlwell is once again joined by Raphael Dixon to discuss the new consumer confidence survey, revealing falling confidence, as well as expectations of an interest rate rise jump.  Topic two discusses the unlikely "marriage of convenience" between some renting millenials and some debt free baby boomers, both hoping for rate hikes. And finally, birth rates: how do governments use fiscal policy to encourage people to have more babies? So far, not much seems to work.   Referenced articles: The Economist - Can the rich world escape its baby crisis? (paywalled) IMF - The New Economics of Fertility