Today’s strong employment growth figures suggest the economy is travelling better than many believe. The rate is down, but Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane report 50,000 new jobs were created.
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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS
Who’s afraid of inflation? Today’s CPI figures are benign — again
More benign inflation data shows “cost of living” complaints are unfounded, and gives the RBA some room to move rates downward. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane look at the numbers.
READ MOREJump in jobless but we’re still ahead in employment
A big fall in employment in March hasn’t wiped out the jobs gains since the start of the year, today’s ABS data show. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane report.
READ MOREStronger retail and building data sits economy back in sweet spot
Today’s retail sales and building figures show an economy picking up, just as the RBA has been trying to engineer, write Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.
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There’s statistical agreement: property prices are up
The ABS and APM have similar figures for Australia’s capital city housing markets (though neither tracks regional areas). And it’s good news, writes Terry Ryder at Property Observer.
READ MORENo pick-up in retail last year, backing RBA case
New data from the ABS contains no good news for retailers, with sluggish trade for December and the last quarter of 2012. The RBA’s economic assessment yesterday seems about right.
READ MOREJobless rate steady — despite Campbell Newman’s efforts
Australia’s December 2012 unemployment rate has edged closer towards 5.4%. But a comparison with 2011 shows the jobs market is more resilient than most punters give it credit for.
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Stop singing those blue-collar blues: manufacturing jobs rise
ABS data shows the dynamics of the Australian workforce are changing — good news at last for manufacturing, but bad news for public servants and construction workers.
READ MOREJobs data: pollies get one over the economists
November jobs data suggests things aren’t as gloomy as many claim, suggesting fiscal policy isn’t the problem currently. Bernard Keane and Glenn Dyer report.
READ MOREStevens vindicated: resilient labour market backs RBA call
October jobs data shows the economy still outperforming the predictions of doomsayers. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane investigate.
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RBA now controls the economics of next year’s federal election
The economic environment in which next year’s federal election will be fought will be affected in large part by how the RBA responds to a worsening international situation.
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Clear as mud: retail, construction data points to uncertainty
Retail sales data out today points to volatility and uncertainty, but some sectors are doing fine. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane look into the numbers.
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Richard Farmer’s chunky bits: Stats all, folks, Vics, SA copping it
Victoria, South Australia feeling pain … Official interest rates … Anchor’s aweigh …
READ MOREPublic service cuts start to bite in workforce numbers
Public service cuts are making their presence felt in employment data, while health continues to power on as out biggest employer.
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Performing arts audiences stagnating: Crikey analysis
A major new analysis of public source attendance data for Australian performing arts companies published today by Crikey reveals stagnating audiences across the sector.
READ MOREFlat unemployment complicates economic picture
Today’s jobs data show the economy has moderated from the strong growth of earlier this year - though not by as much as feared.
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GDP: economy was performing strongly … some months ago
Today’s GDP data doesn’t shed much light on how the economy is currently travelling, but it suggests we entered 2012-13 with considerable momentum, write Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.
READ MORESteady as she goes: jobs figures vindicate RBA strategy
The continuing strength of the Australian jobs market has gone and upset all those carefully thought out forecasts for a rise in the unemployment rate, producing another month of solid jobs growth.
READ MORECredit strong, but housing still barely off the mat
Data from the RBA and ABS show that housing continues to struggle in the face of the mining boom.
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Deflating the myth of cost of living pressures
What CPI result would shift politicians from their insistence about “cost-of-living pressures”? Inflation data shows big rises in government-controlled costs have been offset by flat or falling prices elsewhere.
READ MOREInflation is flat — but rate cut doesn’t ‘loom’ …
Another good inflation result won’t mean much to the Reserve Bank when it next meets, write Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.
READ MOREIs our suicide rate falling? Yes — but …
Criticism of the ABS’s suicide statistics is unwarranted, but the picture it paints is not all positive.
READ MOREConsumers buying more cars than ever (but not Australian)
In a robust display of consumer confidence, Australians bought more cars than ever before in June. It compliments the minutes of the July meeting of the Reserve Bank board, report Bernard Keane and Glenn Dyer.
READ MOREUnusually smooth jobless numbers mirror May
A small rise in unemployment partially offsets the big growth seen in May. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane report.
READ MORERetail data confirms a strengthening economy
Today’s retail sales data adds to the emerging picture of an economy performing more strongly than anticipated - which will have implications for interest rates and the budget surplus.
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