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
US Fed in focus this week
14 September, 2025
• Consolidation. Quieter markets on Friday. US equities near record highs. USD tread water. AUD hovering near the top of its multi-month range.• Central banks. US Fed expected to re-start its cutting cycle....
Let the good times roll
11 September, 2025
• Upbeat vibes. Largely as expected US CPI reinforced US Fed rate cut thinking. US equities rose. USD softer. AUD touched a 10-month high.• US cuts. US Fed looks set to cut rates next week. A steady downshift...
Steady Inflation and Rising Jobless Claims Clear Path For More Fed Easing
11 September, 2025
Underlying consumer price growth held relatively steady in the United States last month, and initial jobless claims jumped last week, giving the Federal Reserve room—and motivation—to cut at next week’s...
AUD upswing continues
10 September, 2025
• Positive tone. Soft US producer prices reinforced Fed easing expectations. Equities rose & yields dipped. AUD touched highest point since November.• Fed pricing. US CPI due tonight. May generate...
Markets Rally Into the Open, Supported By AI Outlook and Weaker Inflation
10 September, 2025
Optimism is rippling across the financial markets and US equity futures are setting up for another strong open after Oracle Corp. said its contract backlog exploded by a staggering 359 percent to $455...
US jobs slowdown
09 September, 2025
• Mixed markets. US equities touched a record. Bond yields rose, as did the USD. AUD drifted back after coming close to its year-to-date peak.• US jobs. Revisions to US payrolls larger than anticipated....
Easing Financial Conditions Translate Into Broad-Based Optimism
09 September, 2025
A sense of optimism is percolating across global financial markets this morning, underpinned by hopes for a drawn-out monetary easing campaign from the Federal Reserve. Long-term bond yields are coming...
Onwards & upwards
08 September, 2025
• Upbeat tone. Markets continue to factor in US Fed rate cuts. US bond yields fell further & USD weakened. AUD approaching top of its year-to-date range.• US jobs. Benchmark revisions to US payrolls...
Markets Hunker Down Ahead of Inflation Reports
08 September, 2025
Currency markets are back in consolidation mode as investors keep an eye on international developments and await inflation data that could alter US monetary policy expectations across the front end of...
US stall speed
07 September, 2025
• US jobs. Weaker than forecast US jobs report. US Fed rate cut expectations increase. Lower US bond yields weigh on USD. AUD & NZD firmer.• Fed policy. Step down in employment points to a series of...