Investment in Australia

Australia - Investment
Lifting of restrictions amid massive fiscal and monetary stimulus prompt rebound in Q3
GDP rose 3.3% in seasonally-adjusted quarter-on-quarter terms in Q3, benefiting from the easing of lockdown measures, as well as supportive fiscal and monetary policies. The result beat market expectations and contrasted Q2’s 7.0% fall. Meanwhile, on an annual basis, the economy contracted at a softer pace of 3.8% in Q3, following Q2’s 6.4% plunge.
The bounce-back was largely driven by a massive rebound in household spending. Private consumption surged 7.9% (Q2: -12.5% s.a. qoq) amid job gains, tax cuts and recovering consumer confidence. In addition, fixed investment contracted at a much milder pace (Q3: -0.1% s.a. qoq; Q2: -4.9% s.a. qoq) thanks to the reopening of businesses, improving business conditions and fiscal stimulus. However, government spending growth lost pace (Q3: +1.4% s.a. qoq; Q2: +3.0% s.a qoq).
The external sector, meanwhile, dragged on the economy, as imports rebounded while exports continued to fall, albeit at a less pronounced pace. Exports fell 3.2% in Q3 (Q2: -7.5% s.a. qoq), weighed down by continued international travel bans and reduced demand for mining commodities, while imports expanded 6.5% in Q3 after plummeting 12.8% in Q2, mainly due to higher demand for consumption goods as restrictions were lifted. Overall, the external sector subtracted 1.9 percentage points from growth, swinging from Q2’s 0.8 percentage-point addition.
Commenting on the outlook, Robert Carnell, regional head of research at ING, stated:
“Assuming that our 1.5% QoQ forecast for 4Q20 is on the mark, this should deliver a contraction for the full year of only 2.9% - an improvement on the 3.2% fall we had previously been pencilling in, and a robust performance when compared with other developed economies.Together with ongoing improvements in the labour force (notwithstanding the small hiccup in the last unemployment rate release), this should also ease the Reserve Bank of Australia's plight. They have remained under some pressure to keep delivering more easing. Sure, there can be further tweaks to the yield curve control and quantitative easing programmes […] but all sensible monetary tools have now already been deployed. Anything further is just finesse in our opinion.”
The economy is projected to return to growth in 2021, following this year’s pronounced contraction. A recovery in household spending and fixed investment, supportive fiscal and monetary policy measures, and the gradual reopening of the global economy should fuel the rebound. However, potential further restrictions at home and abroad pose a downside risk.
FocusEconomics panelists project GDP to expand 3.2% in 2021, which is unchanged from last month’s estimate. In 2022, the economy is seen expanding 3.3%.
Australia - Investment Data
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Investment (annual variation in %) | -4.0 | -2.4 | 3.5 | 2.5 | -2.2 |
Australia Facts
Value | Change | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
Bond Yield | 1.37 | 1.47 % | Dec 31 |
Exchange Rate | 0.70 | 0.05 % | Dec 31 |
Sample Report
Get a sample report showing our regional, country and commodities data and analysis.
Request a Trial
Start working with the reports used by the world’s major financial institutions, multinational enterprises & government agencies now. Click on the button below to get started.
Economic News
-
Australia: Unemployment rate at eight-month low in December
January 21, 2021
Seasonally-adjusted employment soared by 50,000 in November, following 90,000 jobs gain in November.
-
Australia: Consumer sentiment dips in January
January 21, 2021
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index dropped to 107.0 in January from 112.0 in December—which had marked the highest reading since October 2010.
-
Australia: Retail sales jump in November
January 11, 2021
Nominal retail sales in November soared 7.1% over the previous month in seasonally-adjusted terms, following October’s 1.4% increase. Particularly pronounced increases were recorded in household goods retailing, clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing, department stores, cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services and other retailing. In annual terms, retail sales jumped 12.1% in November, following October’s 7.7% expansion.
-
Australia: Unemployment rate drops in November
December 17, 2020
Seasonally-adjusted employment soared by 90,000 in November, following revised 180,400 jobs gain in October (previously reported: +178,800).
-
Australia: Business confidence at highest level in close to three years in November
December 11, 2020
The business confidence index produced by National Australia Bank (NAB) soared from 3.2 points in October to 12.4 points in November, marking the highest reading since April 2018.