The recent seasonal adjustments to the CPI and the reduction in the level of underlying inflation blunts the force of the RBA’s recent argument about inflationary pressures. But, absent an offshore catalysing event, that alone won’t make them cut rates.
Rather I think that household retrenchment and saving will lower economic activity in the economy and that the RBA has overplayed the extent that the mining boom induced income will wash through the Australian economy.
Increasingly, we are getting confirmation of this theory. Unfortunately, we are seeing Australians lose jobs at an increasing rate. Data released yesterday by Westpac on consumer unemployment expectations suggests this is going to get worse.
Australia Investor Confidence at Lowest Level Since 2009 – WSJ.com
Australians face rising electricity bills, fuel prices and mortgage rates, and the increasing cost of living has been exacting a toll on the economy.
Neither consumers nor businesses are in the mood to borrow in a major way. Veda’s quarterly Consumer Credit Demand Index, released Monday, showed consumer credit demand has dropped 5.1% since March. Business credit growth was flat in July, after having not posted growth for four straight months, St. George Bank economist Janu Chan said. In the year to July, business credit contracted 1.9%. “Lackluster growth in business credit is consistent with softening business confidence, and adds to evidence that certain sectors of the economy are doing it tough,” Ms. Chan said in a note.
via Australia Investor Confidence at Lowest Level Since 2009 – WSJ.com.
The Rolex economy – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au
My main concern is that frighteningly, the RBA, and probably much of the government, sees Australia’s future as a single bet on mining, and is willing to sacrifice much of the remaining economy for this to happen……. Remember, the minerals will be in the ground if we don’t mine them now, but the decades of production chains elsewhere in the economy are easily destroyed and slow to rebuild.
I acknowledge that the RBA has a single tool in its toolbox, but surely the message we should be hearing is that a strong and stable economy is a diverse economy. Quarry Australia is a very volatile and risky place to want to be.
via The Rolex economy – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au.
Disleveraging and retail – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au
We’ve long established the link between [Australian] house prices and retail sales, but here is a pretty clear illustration of the link between mortgage creation and sales.
This stands as a stark warning to anyone expecting a bounce in retail sales so long as disleveraging continues. Let alone actual deleveraging.
via Disleveraging and retail – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au.
Housing falls accelerate – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au
Australian house prices continued to slide in July, according to the latest RP Data-Rismark house price index.On a seasonally adjusted basis prices fell 0.6% in July while the 0.2% June decline was revised lower to show a fall of 0.4%
via Housing falls accelerate – macrobusiness.com.au | macrobusiness.com.au.