Perspective: The week ahead

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The ECB cut rates and introduced aggressive expansionary measures to lift EZ growth. The US payrolls data tonight will likely set the tone for markets next week. The US and

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10 Jun 2014

Residential construction (finally) takes off

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Construction Work Done – QI 2014 The volume of construction work done rose by 0.3% in QI.  It is 2.6% higher through the year. Residential construction surged by 6.8% while

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29 May 2014

2014/15 Budget Preview

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The Commission of Audit set out the fiscal parameters. The Government’s initial response will come on Budget night. The Budget will be “tough” – but measures may be back‑end loaded.

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08 May 2014

Retail Trade – February 2014

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Retail trade rose by 0.2% in February following a spike of 1.2% in January. Annual growth slowed to a still respectable 4.9%. The February result was driven by a lift

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04 Apr 2014

Business Investment Outlook

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Business investment will decline noticeably over the next few years as the mining capex downturn accelerates. The largest impact will be in the engineering construction space.  Non‑mining engineering construction growth

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24 Mar 2014

The Week Ahead, 17 February, 2014

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Events in the Crimea are expected to keep driving volatility across financial markets in the coming week The mid‑week US FOMC meeting, chaired by Janet Yellen, is likely to announce

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17 Mar 2014

Trade Balance – January 2014

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The January trade surplus surged to $1433mn, following a smaller December surplus of $591mn. Exports of goods and services rose by 3.7% over January while imports lifted by 0.8%.  Export

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07 Mar 2014

CBA Economics: RBA’s neutral policy bias reiterated in Board minutes

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The February Board minutes reiterated the RBA’s neutral policy bias that was evident in the February Statement on Monetary Policy. The QIV Wage Price Index data (released Wednesday 19 February)

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19 Feb 2014

CBA Economics: Consumer sentiment falls to its lowest level since May last year

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Consumer Sentiment – February 2014 Consumer sentiment fell by 3% in February to its lowest level since May last year. Sentiment declined for a third month in a row as

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13 Feb 2014

Home loans lift but first home buyer share at record lows

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Weekly petrol prices; Housing finance; Job advertisements Home loans lift: The number of new owner-occupier housing loans rose by 1.1 per cent in November, the tenth increase in the past 11

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14 Jan 2014