Australia
Australia
Real Gross Domestic Product
Gross domestic product, chain volume measures, quarterly change, %, SA, updates quarterly
Real gross domestic product measures the change in the inflation-adjusted value of all goods and services produced in the economy. It comprises private consumption and investment, inventory buildup, government spending and net exports. Markets watch this indicator to gauge the strength and composition of growth.
Australia
Unemployment Rate
Labour underutilisation rates, all persons, %, SA, updates monthly
The unemployment rate measures the percentage of the labor force currently not working but actively seeking employment, while the underemployment rate measures part- and stood-down full-time employees who are not working as much as they desire. The underutilisation rate is the sum of the unemployment and underutilisation rates. Markets monitor these rates to assess the cyclical health of the economy and the likelihood that wage demands may increase inflationary pressures.
Australia
Consumer Prices
All groups, ex. volatile items, trimmed mean, annual % change, SA, updates monthly
The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the change over time in the average prices paid by consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. As the most widely used measure of inflation, changes in the index are closely followed by policymakers, financial markets, businesses, and consumers. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports an 'All Groups' number that includes all categories in the calculation basket, an ex-"volatile items" measure that excludes fruit, vegetables, automotive fuel, and holiday travel, and a 'Trimmed Mean' number that strips out the most volatile 30% of items.
Australia
Retail Sales
Turnover, monthly change, %, SA, updates monthly
Retail sales measures the monthly online and in-store turnover of retailers in Australia, and is calculated in seasonally-adjusted and current dollar terms. By providing critical insight into consumer spending trends, it is considered a key leading indicator, influencing the direction of monetary policy and the Australian dollar over time.
Australia
Trade Balance
Balance on goods and services, millions AUD, SA, updates monthly
The trade balance measures the difference in value between imported and exported goods and services over the reported period. A positive number indicates that more goods and services were exported than imported - generating a trade surplus - and a negative number indicates a deficit. Trade imbalances may reflect fleeting differences in growth rates or more permanent factors in the composition of growth or the endowment and price of natural resources
Australia
Cash Rate Target
Reserve Bank of Australia target for the overnight rate, %
The cash rate target is an overnight interest rate that the Reserve Bank of Australia targets in order to influence monetary variables in the economy, including consumer prices, exchange rates, and credit growth. The Reserve Bank reviews the target rate on eleven fixed dates each year.
Australia
Money Supply Growth
M3 money supply, annual change, %, SA, updates monthly
M3 money supply is a measure of currency that includes cash, checking deposits, non-cash assets that can easily be converted into cash, and longer-term near-cash assets, including deposits with a maturity of up to two years, deposits redeemable at notice of up to three months and repurchase agreements, money market fund instruments and debt securities up to two years. Markets don’t typically respond directly to changes in M3, but growth in the money supply can influence inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates over longer time horizons.
Australia
Central Bank Assets
Reserve Bank of Australia total assets, billions AUD
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s assets consist primarily of government and corporate bonds, gold and foreign exchange reserves, reverse repurchase agreements, and other instruments. Its liabilities are mostly currency in circulation, commercial bank reserves, and collateralized reverse repurchase agreements. The balance sheet is used to influence interest rates - when officials want to stimulate the economy, it expands, and when they wish to tighten financial conditions, it shrinks.
Australia
Debt Ratios
Credit to general government, non-financial corporate, and household Sectors, % of gross domestic product at market value, updates quarterly
Aggregate debt ratios measure the total borrowing of the general government, non-financial corporate, and household sectors, expressed as a share of gross domestic product. Total debt is followed by investors as a gauge of the vulnerability of an economy to financial shocks. An overly fast pace of debt growth is also frequently associated with a buildup of unproductive investment and excessively high asset valuations.
Australia
Currency Reserves
Official reserve assets, foreign currency reserves (in convertible foreign currencies), billions USD, updates monthly
Currency reserves are external financial holdings that are freely usable for settlement of international transactions, and are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in currency markets to affect exchange rates, and for other related purposes. Developed markets with widely used, freely tradeable international currencies typically provide reserve assets rather than engaging in reserve accumulation.
Latest Analysis
Latest Analysis
Currency trading ranges shrink as markets continue to ignore shutdown risks
03 October, 2025
Rumours of the dollar’s shutdown-inflicted death have been greatly exaggerated. The greenback is holding firm against its major rivals this morning despite confirmation that the US government will remain...
US shutdown vacuum
01 October, 2025
• Holding on. Markets take the latest US shutdown in stride. US equities edged up while bond yields slipped back. USD & AUD tread water.• US shutdown. No real sense of urgency to strike a deal quickly....
Another US government shutdown
30 September, 2025
• Holding firm. US equities ticked up overnight, while bond yields consolidated & USD weakened. AUD rose with AUD also outperforming on the crosses.• RBA holds. No change by RBA. Comments leant more...
RBA: any more easing left?
30 September, 2025
As widely anticipated, particularly after last week’s hotter monthly Australian CPI figures, the RBA kept the cash rate at 3.6% at today’s meeting. The Board’s decision was unanimous, and there was little...
US government shutdown looming
28 September, 2025
• Risk uptick. US equities ended a 3-day losing streak on Friday. USD eased back. AUD & NZD tick up. No change expected by RBA this week.• US shutdown. US politics in focus with another shutdown looming....
US Consumer Demand Holds Up, Supporting The Dollar's Rate Premium
26 September, 2025
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure climbed as expected in August and personal income and spending numbers beat forecasts, making it more difficult to justify an aggressive course of rate...
Dollar Advances As Easing Expectations Pull Back
25 September, 2025
The dollar is trading near a two-week high this morning as traders pull back on overly-optimistic monetary easing expectations and adjust positions amid heavy quarter-end rebalancing. The Canadian dollar,...
Inflation & the RBA
24 September, 2025
• Market swings. US equities dipped again, while US yields & USD rose. NZD remains on backfoot. AUD unwound yesterday’s CPI induced gains.• AU CPI. Inflation hotter than expected in August. Data...
FX Momentum Dies As Fed Officials Outline Dual-Sided Risks
24 September, 2025
After most Federal Reserve officials—with the notable exception of Stephen Miran—sounded a consistently-cautious and incrementally-hawkish tone in appearances during the early part of the week, the US...
Steady as she goes
23 September, 2025
• FX consolidation. In contrast to the dip in US equities & yields the USD tread water. AUD near ~$0.66. Fed Chair Powell notes the “challenging situation”.• AU CPI. Monthly CPI indicator...