Wed Dec 13

There's a glimmer of hope in the mid-year budget update, but inflation is still a big challenge

Written by Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra

The federal government knows people are doing it tough. Inflation and interest rate pressures have put the cost-of-living at the forefront of voters’ minds.

As the national accounts data shows ^[1], disposable income has fallen. Households have been forced to run down their savings. The household savings ratio has hit its lowest level in 16 years.

The mid-year budget ^[2] update released on Wednesday confirms this. The Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) estimates the economy is expected to expand by a low 1.75% in 2023–24. It also notes inflation – although moderating – is still too high. The outlook attributes that mainly to global oil prices.

There is a small glimmer of hope. The update predicts the economy will grow more strongly in 2024-25 due to rising real incomes and charts a decline in real income growth turning around in future years. Hopefully that will happen. It is the only way Australian households will be able to cope with the cost of living. A key challenge for the government The challenge facing the government is that it can’t splash cash on easing cost-of-living pain without adding to inflation. Higher inflation would cause the Reserve Bank to raise its interest rate targets even further, making things worse. There are ways to address the problem. Initiatives in the May budget, including measures to reduce energy and childcare costs, aimed to help households without putting pressure on inflation. The outlook notes these are still being rolled out.

But there are only a limited number of initiatives like this available to governments. Some are tempted to spend budget money instead. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has avoided that temptation. There’s no extra cost-of-living assistance package in this update. Instead, there is determination to rein in debt and deficit. The fine line between surplus and deficit The MYEFO 2023-24 budget balance is A$1.1 billion. That’s line ball between surplus and deficit. The balance is the difference between two much larger numbers: $685 billion in receipts and $686 billion in payments. What’s more, these are estimates, not actuals. We won’t know how they turn out until the final budget outcome is released in October next year. In the meantime, we can expect another round of estimates updates in the May 2024 budget. No self-respecting economist would claim it matters whether Australia has a surplus or deficit. What makes a difference to our national financial sustainability is how a government responds to the economic pressures it faces. There are challenges but overall, the outlook is ok On that measure, this is a responsible document. The revenue estimates have improved since the May budget, mainly due to global commodity prices. The government has spent little of this windfall. Chalmers’ MYEFO media release says the government has returned 92% of upward revisions to revenue since the May budget. He says this means the government “will avoid $145 billion over 12 years to 2033-34 in interest costs on the debt we inherited”. As a result, the forward estimates for the Australian government’s debt and deficit are lower at this point than at budget. Gross debt as a share of GDP is expected to peak at 35.4% of GDP in 2027-28, before declining.

There is an estimated $9.8 billion in savings, including already announced reductions in infrastructure spending. That was a good measure, because in addition to improving the budget bottom line it will have a direct impact on lowering building costs. Offsetting those savings are a raft of new spending measures arising from decisions taken since the budget. They include defence support for Ukraine, aged care reform, additional money for ongoing COVID responses, new pharmaceutical benefit scheme listings, national water grid, housing and several hundred more. Many have already been announced. The report gathers them together and adds them up. They add $1.1 billion to spending in 2023-23, $2.7 billion in 2024-25. There are big announcements ahead … Sadly, in a blow for budget transparency, there is still a line for decisions taken but not yet announced. We don’t know what decisions these are, but they are significant – the estimates start at $270 million in 2023-24 and rise to $1.8 billion in 2026-27. It is impossible to tell ^[3] what this spending is for. If the government were to reverse those decisions between now and the next budget update, we will never know. On the plus side, this mid-year report has been released at roughly the mid-point of the financial year. Some previous reports have come out at different times – ranging from mid-October to late January (the latest it can be released under the Charter of Budget Honesty Act). Chalmers has in the past expressed his desire to move back to a more regular and predictable budget processes. A MYEFO in December is normal and regular. Read more: Budget update forecasts deficit of $1.1 billion this financial year ^[4] References^{^} national accounts data shows (theconversation.com)^{^} mid-year budget (budget.gov.au)^{^} impossible to tell (theconversation.com)^{^} Budget update forecasts deficit of $1.1 billion this financial year (theconversation.com)

There's a glimmer of hope in the mid-year budget update, but inflation is still a big challenge

Humanising AI could lead us to dehumanise ourselves

It would cost billions, but pay for itself over time. The economic case for air conditioning every Australian school

Do electric cars greatly increase the average mass of cars on the road? Not in Australia

Three Chefs, One Vision: Oribu’s Newest Era

Digital Nomads are Taking to the Seas

Balancing AI and Human Touch in Customer Service: A Critical Approach for Brands

2024 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards

SeaLink Marine & Tourism Partners with Clontarf Foundation to Empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth

Shiperoo Welcomes Visionary Entrepreneurs Gabby and Hezi Leibovich to Lead Re-Commerce Innovation

Managing Medical Debt: How to Avoid Falling Behind on Payments

Global Economic Influences: How They Affect Nifty 50 Performance

Slight easing in Sydney vacancy rates

Choosing the Right Property Management Company in Gold Coast

Creating a Healthier Coop with Natural Bedding

The Benefits of Collaborative Family Law for Amicable Resolutions

What is the latest waterfront dispute about?

Michelle Grattan on the legacy of the Afghanistan War

Times Lifestyle

Purple Wiggle John Pearce goes Green with new food waste initiati…

Christmas gifting made easy | Once Upon Photobooks

Discover the REESE'S Chocolate Experience

Times Magazine

Creating a Healthier Coop with Natural Bedding

The Benefits of Collaborative Family Law for Amicable Resolutions

How OEM Navigation Systems Improve Trucking Safety Standards

Times Media

News Services

Times Media