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Economics

Aust economic growth slows to just 0.2% in March qtr - ABS

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 2 JUN 2004
Economic growth slowed dramatically in the opening months of the year, new figures showed today, the worst result in more than a year.

Current account deficit up to nearly $12b in March qtr - ABS

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 1 JUN 2004
Australia's current account deficit worsened again in the first three months of the year, with consumer demand for imported goods outweighing a recovery in farm exports.

Aust trade gap narrows in April as farm exports recover - ABS

AAP  |  MONDAY, 31 MAY 2004
A jump in farm exports in April, particularly wheat, helped narrow Australia's trade gap with the rest of the world, new figures showed today.

Leading Index points to continued economic slowdown in Australia

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2004
The annualised growth rate of the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index of Economic Activity was 2.7% in March, below its long-trend of 3.3%.

Total Aust building work done in Mar qtr falls 0.5%, adj

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 26 MAY 2004
The value of total building work done in Australia during the March quarter fell 0.5%, seasonally adjusted.

Aust consumer expectations of inflation ease

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 20 MAY 2004
Consumer expectations of inflation in the coming year eased this month after a surprisingly large rise in April, a new survey has shown.

Aust May consumer sentiment rises modestly in wake of Budget

Australian consumer sentiment rose modestly in May, in the wake of the federal Budget.

Aust merchandise imports fall 5.2% in April - ABS

Merchandise imports fell 5.2% in April to $10.82 billion, new figures showed today.

Market Wrap

On Friday, US blue chips ended slightly higher while the Nasdaq retreated on Friday, as worries about oil prices at 21-year highs and rising interest rates tempered positive earnings and economic data that underscored the economy's strength.

Aust unemployment rate 5.6% in April - ABS

Australia's unemployment rate was a seasonally adjusted 5.6% in April, compared with an unrevised 5.6% rate in March, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.