Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Consumer Confidence (Mar.) The relatively small fall in the Westpac measure of consumer confidence in March should be considered a fairly good result when set against the extent of the weakness in the financial markets earlier... 9th March 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Retail Sales (Jan.) Retail sales in January were slightly weaker than expected and suggest that consumption growth may have softened at the start of the year. Nonetheless, there is little evidence that the turmoil in... 4th March 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia International Trade (Jan.) The unexpectedly large narrowing in the international trade deficit in January suggests that the resurgence in the Australian economy in the second half of last year may have continued at the start of... 3rd March 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia GDP (Q4) The news that the economy grew by 0.6% q/q late last year will reassure the RBA that it has been right to resist calls to cut interest rates further. That said, it might not be long before the RBA... 2nd March 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Private Capital Expenditure Survey (Q4) Although the fourth quarter Australia private capital expenditure data were stronger than expected, the disappointing estimates of future capital expenditure will be concerning for the Reserve Bank of... 25th February 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Labour Market (Jan.) The further fall in employment in January is probably just a continuation of the data moving back to reality after the unbelievable strength late last year rather than a sign that the concerns over... 18th February 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Consumer Confidence (Feb.) The rise in the Westpac measure of consumer confidence in February is particularly impressive given how far equity prices have fallen. It suggests that the strong labour market and fall in petrol... 10th February 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Retail Sales (Dec.) December’s weaker than expected retail sales figures suggest that retailers had a disappointing Christmas period and that consumer spending has lost some momentum. As a result, we’ve revised down our... 5th February 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia International Trade & Building Approvals (Dec.) December’s international trade and building approvals data cast doubt on the RBA’s view that there are “reasonable prospects for continued growth in the economy”. This is especially the case when... 3rd February 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response New Zealand Labour Market (Q4) The astonishing plunge in the unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of last year, to a six-year low of 5.3% from 6.0% in the third quarter, decreases the chances that the RBNZ will reduce interest... 3rd February 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Consumer Prices (Q4) The rise in headline inflation in the fourth quarter of last year, to 1.7% from 1.5%, hides the more important easing in underlying inflation. On one measure, underlying inflation is now below the RBA... 27th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response New Zealand Consumer Prices (Q4) The fall in CPI inflation to just 0.1% in the fourth quarter of last year, from 0.4% in the third quarter, could prove to be a game-changer for the RBNZ as it leaves the economy uncomfortably close to... 20th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Labour Market (Dec.) The recent improvement in Australia’s labour market was maintained in December, which should go some way to relieving the current downward pressure on equity prices and the Australian dollar. 14th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia Retail Sales (Nov.) The 0.4% m/m rise in retail sales values in November shows that consumer spending maintained its momentum in the run up to the crucial Christmas shopping period. And it probably means that consumption... 8th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia International Trade & Building Approvals (Nov.) November’s international trade and building approvals figures show that two important supports of the economy softened towards the end of last year. This reinforces our view that GDP growth in the... 7th January 2016 · 1 min read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response New Zealand GDP (Q3) The impressive rebound in GDP growth in the third quarter does not mean that New Zealand is out of the woods. With the full hit from the plunge in dairy prices still to be felt, growth will be weaker... 17th December 2015 · 1 min read
