Record level of stressed households as all but four of 39 economists in survey tip Melbourne Cup Day hikeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAlmost half of Australia’s mortgage holders are in financial stress even before an expected Melbourne Cup day interest rate rise goes ahead, paying at least 30% of their income to service their loans.Households diverting at least 30% of their disposable income to service a mortgage – a standard stress gauge – will account for 48.5% of total borrowers by the end of the year, according to the Australian National University’s Australian tax and welfare system model. Continue reading...