Business investment continues to slide

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Capex – QIII 2015 The 4th estimate of 2015‑16 capital spending came in at $120.4bn, slightly better than expected. Mining plans came in at $56b and non‑mining plans are now

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Stronger iron ore prices lift export receipts

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Balance on Goods and Services – September 2015 The goods and services trade deficit came in at $2.3bn in September. Total exports rose by 3.4% and total imports rose by

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How far through the mining jobs decline are we?

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The RBA estimates that mining construction related job losses will total 90K from the mining capex peak (end 2012) to trough (end 2018). On our calculations, we are around 20%

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Retail trade disappoints in May despite positive influences on consumers

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Retail spending rose by a modest 0.3% over May with annual growth now sitting at 4.7%. Spending rose in food (+0.7%), household goods retailing (+0.8%), other retailing (+0.3%).  And retail

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CBA Economics: State and Territory Perspectives

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Most economic commentary is focussed on the national outcome. The State and Territory Perspectives report digs below the surface and compares outcomes across various regions and covers the macroeconomic trends in

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Capex Preview – First estimate of 2015-16 spending is key

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Capex Preview – QIV 2014 The RBA’s latest downgrade to growth forecasts were based on a more negative outlook for non‑mining capex.  In this context, the first estimate of 2015‑16

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Retail spending disappoints over December

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Retail trade rose by a soft 0.2% in December.  Annual growth has come down to 4.1% The volume of retail spending still remains high.  In volume terms, retail trade increased

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A look at housing in 2015

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We expect new dwelling construction to be 193K in 2015, staying near the record level of 2014. The major drivers of housing construction are firm population growth, very low mortgage

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What is needed to drive consumer spending?

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Real wages growth will remain low while the labour market is weak.  Real household disposable income growth will continue to run at a below‑average pace and therefore act as a

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No signs of Budget fears in May credit data

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Housing credit lifted by 0.5% and is running at 6.2% over the year.  Investor housing credit rose by 0.8% (8.3%pa) and owner‑occupied credit increased by 0.4% (5.2%pa). Business credit increased

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