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
Worries return
17 June, 2025
• Turnaround. Middle East concerns returned overnight. Oil rose, US equities & bond yields declined. USD firmer. AUD & NZD lost ground.• Fluid situation. More headline driven volatility looks likely...
Dollar's Decline Remains Intact Even As Risk Backdrop Worsens
17 June, 2025
The dollar is up slightly this morning, but remains on course toward its worst year-to-date performance in this century, even as geopolitical risks simmer in the background and the Federal Reserve grapples...
Upbeat vibes. Will it last?
16 June, 2025
• Improved vibes. Turnaround in markets overnight on reports Iran is looking to restart nuclear talks. Equities rose, oil prices eased. AUD & NZD rebounded.• Macro trends. Middle East situation remains...
Geopolitical Concerns Ease Ahead of Action-Packed Week
16 June, 2025
Measures of market stress are moderating ahead of a week crammed with a combustible array of potential volatility catalysts including an escalation in Middle East hostilities, three major central bank...
The fog of war
15 June, 2025
• Middle East conflict. Developments dampened sentiment. Oil prices spiked & equities slipped back. USD firmer. AUD & NZD lost some ground.• Volatility. Geopolitical tensions can generate more...
Israeli Attack on Iran Leaves Markets Rattled
13 June, 2025
Financial markets are suffering another round of tumult this morning after Israel launched dozens of air strikes against Iran, targeting its air defences, nuclear programme, and military leadership. As...
Volatility Surges as Israel Strikes Iran
12 June, 2025
The US dollar is surging against most of its major counterparts as Israel launches airstrikes on Iran, threatening to ignite a new war in the Middle East – still the origin of nearly a third of global...
Crosscurrents
11 June, 2025
• Mixed signals. Positive US CPI offset by lack of US/China trade progress. S&P500 dipped, as did bond yields. AUD & NZD also eased back.• Tariff impacts. Some signs of tariffs in US inflation....
Dollar Slips and Markets Rip Higher As Soft US Inflation Data Bolsters Rate Cut Bets
11 June, 2025
The US dollar is trading with a modestly weaker bias after fresh evidence that price pressures are moderating in the world’s largest economy reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve could begin...
Currencies Calm Even As Pound Slumps On Labour Market Cooling
10 June, 2025
The greenback is edging higher against most of its advanced-economy counterparts, but traders remain cautious as they await tomorrow’s inflation release, Thursday’s long-dated Treasury auction, and any...