The broad measure of business inflation – the producer price index (PPI), or final stage prices, – rose by 0.3 per cent in the March quarter to stand 1.6 per cent higher than a year ago. What do the figures show? The Producer Price Index (PPI), or final stage prices, rose by 0.3 per cent [...]
continue readingEmployment rose by 13,900 in November after a revised gain of 10,100 jobs in October (previously +10,700). Economists had expected a flat result. In November, full-time jobs fell by 4,200 after rising by 17,600 in October. Part-time jobs rose by 18,100 after falling by 7,400 in October. Full-time jobs have only fallen once in the [...]
continue readingEmployment fell by 27,000 in June after a revised 27,900 (previously 38,900 in May). Economists had expected a flat result. In June part-time jobs rose by 6,600 after falling by 8,600 in May. Full-time jobs fell by 33,500 after rising by 36,400 in May. The unemployment rate rose from 5.1 per cent to 5.2 per [...]
continue readingAustralian companies are continuing to hold more money in liquid cash and deposits than ever before. Just under half of financial assets at private sector companies are held in cash or deposits, while households are holding just over a quarter of their assets in cash and deposits. The high level of liquid assets is both [...]
continue readingThe decision to follow up the half a per cent rate cut in May with another quarter of a per cent cut in June was not as clear cut as markets previously thought. The latest Reserve Bank Board minutes highlights that while the case for a rate cut was compelling, it was a “finely balanced” [...]
continue readingThe Consumer Price Index – the main measure of inflation in Australia – rose by 0.1 per cent in the March quarter, well below expectations centred on a 0.6 per cent rise in prices. In seasonally adjusted terms the CPI fell by 0.2 per cent. The CPI stands just 1.6 per cent higher than a [...]
continue readingThe Reserve Bank Governor has delivered the clearest message yet that the Central Bank has a strong degree of confidence in the outlook for the domestic economy. The tone and comments from the testimony is consistent with CommSec’s view that the cash rate will remain on hold until at least the May meeting. While the [...]
continue readingLabour force The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 per cent in June. The participation rate edged up from 65.5 per cent to 65.6 per cent. The working age population rose by 19,600. Employment rose by 23,400 people in June. Economists had tipped job gains of around 15,000. But the May result was sharply revised [...]
continue readingInternational trade; Performance of Services Australia’s trade surplus widened by $716 million to $2,333 million in May – a seven month high. Exports rose 3.2 per cent with imports up 0.4 per cent. The trade surplus with broader China (China and Hong Kong) has risen from $10.3 billion to $25 billion in the space of [...]
continue readingWeekly petrol prices According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the national average Australian price of unleaded petrol rose by 1.1 cents per litre to 140.2 cents a litre in the week to June 19. Global oil prices recorded a sharp fall in the past week which should translate into lower pump prices in a [...]
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