Volkiswagen have unleashed their latest wagon which is mighty impressive considering that it is better value for money than its predecessor. Volkswagen have done very well in the past with sales exceeding 15 million on the previous model. The latest version is a better looking vehicle with all the latest safety features and giving you more bang for your buck.

After a test drive of the base model it has shown that the fuel economy is excellent using 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres or less on the open road. It is a quiet, smooth running vehicle which is a pleasure to drive. It also passes all the Euro 5 emissions regulations so you can be driving a greener vehicle too.

At an entry price of $40,990 it is good value for money, providing you with leather upholstery, bluetooth, park distance control, 17 inch alloys, driver fatigure detection, large touch screen multi-function display and climate control. With eight airbags you can be assured that you are driving a five star crash rating vehicle. With a stylish interior and exterior you will be proud to call this vehicle yours.

To obtain an instant car finance approval to help you get into this vehicle quickly, contact a Madison Finance representative. We will get you driving sooner!

The latest rebound in retail sales could not have come at a more welcome time following several months of slides and continued gloom. The 1.1 percent monthly growth is nearly 3 times more than the most optimistic forecast from the main retail chains. Meanwhile, the latest Retail Forecast report by the respected Deloitte Access Economics is being read very keenly. It says the softening economy will continue to keep retailers in a partial downturn and that trend is being worsened by the growing number of consumers preference to save what was previously discretionary spending. It insists this vital sector of the economy will stay that way for the remainder of 2011.

The annual cold season discontent among house buyers has seen dwelling prices continue to slump. Predictably, the real estate industry blames the many lack-lustre economic factors and the latest sales figures show only Sydney prices to be holding up while most other state capitals continue to sink. Researcher, RP Data, says while the average drop across all major cities is around 3 percent in the past year, Sydney prices have put on nearly 1 percent compared to Melbourne’s reduction of around 0.4 percent.

The End of the Financial Year is almost upon us. And right now, before the 30th of June, is when you should be considering your strategies to trim your tax bill by minimising your assessable income. Although you should always seek advice from a professional financial services advisor or your accountant, here are a few areas that you may consider before 30 June 2011.

Superannuation
Your super is a long-term strategy. There isn’t a better time to look at this than pre 30 June. The most popular tax minimization option is to ‘salary sacrifice’. This is an arrangement employees have with their employer (or business owners arrange for themselves) where you can make further super payments from your pre-tax salary in lieu of take-home pay.

This money is then taxed at a lower rate – 15%. For many people, this is a much lower tax rate than the tax rate on take-home pay. There are caps for the amount you can contribute so it is important to get expert advice.

Pre-pay Expenses
Another strategy is to prepay interest on an investment loan (you can do this for up to 12 months in advance). You can then claim the deductions against your income.

Individuals and Sole Traders
If you run a business on your own, there might be claimable purchases that you’re perhaps not aware of. Besides the obvious mobile phone, vehicle expenses and marketing expenses, there are often deductions that are less well known.

Make sure you’re maximising your deductions – ask your accountant for help.

Income Splitting
If you have a spouse or partner who earns a low wage (or doesn’t work at all) and also have investments, it’s possible to minimize your combined tax bill by holding some investments in their name. You can’t split wages, but you can put income from investments into your partner’s return, which should be taxed at a lower than marginal rate.

Investment property
Do you own an investment property? You can claim expenses, such as body corporate fees, advertising for tenants, pest control, agent’s fees and some maintenance. Are there any repairs that need to be done… you may be able to use these as a deduction if you finish them before 30 June.

The latest figures show the annual inflation rate slowed in May as cheaper holiday travel, household appliances and slightly cheaper fuel outweighed the rise in fruit and vegetable prices. Since the latter factors should return to normal with the food supply chain being re-established, most analysts agree our national C.P.I. should be under less pressure by the end of this year. And that should relieve pressure on interest rate increases.

The last set of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures which were affected by weather-related events were quickly offset by the numbers for CAPEX (capital expenditure). These show spending rose a very healthy 3.4 percent in real terms, according to the Bureau of Statistics.

The head of the national Treasury, Martin Parkinson, has played down the significance of the last quarter’s economic downturn insisting Australia is about to enter a boom that should last decades. Speaking to Canberra Senators at the release of official statistics, he said the country is about to enter a “golden age propelled by high export prices, enhanced mining capacity and a once-in-a-lifetime global realignment.” He played down recent pessimism about the effects of carbon pricing and reminded the gathering that mining is only 8 percent of the gross domestic products which highlights the strength of the remainder of the economy.