State of the States – July 2013

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State & territory economic performance report How are Australia’s states and territories performing? Each quarter CommSec attempts to find out by analysing eight key indicators: economic growth; retail spending; equipment

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CommSec: New data allays fears about Chinese economy

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Latest Chinese economic data The Chinese economy grew at 7.5 per cent annual pace in the June quarter – in line with forecasts.The economy grew by 1.7 per cent in

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning July 14 2013

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Australia July 15   Lending finance (May) – Covers personal, business, housing and lease loans July 15   New vehicle sales (June) – Sales hit record highs; up 5.5% over the year

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Commsec: Unemployment rate lifts to 4-year high

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Labour force Jobs & jobless rate: Employment rose by 10,300 in June after falling by a revised 700 jobs in May (previously reported as a 1,100 rise in jobs). Economists had

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Commsec: Mining states more pessimistic

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Consumer confidence; Chinese trade data Consumer sentiment: The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer confidence fell by 0.1 per cent in July. Three of the five components of the index fell in

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CommSec: Interest rates held steady…for now

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Reserve Bank Board meeting The Reserve Bank Board has left the official cash rate at 2.75 per cent for the second straight month. In May the RBA cut the cash

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The year that was: 2012/13

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Commsec has released its review of the 2012/13 financial year highlights. In summary: The European debt crisis eased in the early part of 2012/13, after the European Central Bank acted

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CBA Economics: RBA open to further rate cuts

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Minutes of the June Reserve Bank Board meeting suggest Board members were very comfortable to keep interest rates on hold. But believed that they could do more if necessary. Reserve

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Youth unemployment falls to a 4½-year low

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Employment rose by 1,100 in May after rising by a revised 45,000 jobs in April (previously reported as a 50,100 rise in jobs). Economists had expected a 10,000 fall in

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Stable rates boost confidence

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The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer confidence rose by 4.7 per cent in June. All five components of the index rose in June. The index is up 6.9 per cent

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