The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Men's Weekly

.

Australians still feeling pain in the hip-pocket but there are positive signs of growth ahead

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

Australia’s economic growth remains in the slow lane, at only 0.3% for the September quarter, keeping Australia close to recession territory.

However, the national accounts data[1] released on Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) puts growth slightly higher than the snailish[2] 0.2% recorded the previous quarter.

Although growth is painfully slow, this could well be seen by next year as the turning point when the trend started to move into positive territory.

Slowest growth in 4 years

The annual rate of growth, 0.8% since September 2023, is the slowest since 2020.

Most of it was driven by public-sector spending and investment. The main government spending was for energy rebates, plus social benefits including the National Disability Insurance Scheme and aged care. Public investment included roads, hospitals and imports of defence equipment.

Gross domestic product (GDP) per head of population continues to fall, for the seventh consecutive quarter. Were it not for immigration, Australia’s growth would be going backwards – what many commentators call a per capita recession[3].

Cost of living still hurting

This means that average Australians’ standard of living, as measured by GDP, continues to decline. Not that GDP is the only thing that matters. GDP is limited – it only measures the dollar value of goods and services produced in Australia.

Thirty-six years ago, feminist economist Marilyn Waring[4] wrote If Women Counted[5], pointing out that GDP did not measure the value of unpaid work (mostly by women) and nature.

That said, most people would prefer economic growth in their pockets, rather than living standards going backwards. It is why cost-of-living pressures – despite inflation falling – continue to bite. The government will be desperately hoping this statistic turns around before the election.

There is some good news for households in the ABS release. Disposable income rose, due to wages growth and income tax cuts. So households were able to save more, with the saving ratio growing from 2.4% to 3.5%. That is, more Australian families can set money aside for the future. It’s not yet at pre-COVID levels but heading in the right direction.

Productivity drops

Australia’s productivity, as measured by GDP per hour worked, declined by 0.8% over the year to September 2024. This is a worry. The most effective way to lift living standards over the longer term is to improve productivity.

Neither government nor academic economists agree on why our productivity has dropped, and solutions remain elusive. Some of them involve increasing investment in skills and training, and more effective use of capital resources.

On that latter element, there may be relief down the track. The good news is that business investment in machinery, equipment and software remained high. In comments[6] released with Wednesday’s figures, the ABS said:

the last time we saw sustained levels of investment this high was during the mining construction boom between 2012 and 2014.

Other things being equal, more business investment in capital should give rise to higher productivity.

Australia’s slow GDP growth largely reflects high interest rates. By keeping interest rates high, the Reserve Bank of Australia makes it more expensive for businesses to borrow money to hire new staff or buy new equipment.

This puts the brakes on business growth, pulls the economy downwards, and helps control inflation. That is what the Reserve Bank is aiming for. Inflation has indeed fallen, to its lowest rate since the March quarter in 2021.

In that sense the low growth number for September may be good news for borrowers. The RBA won’t be as fearful of cutting interest rates and overheating the economy - there is little chance of that.

References

  1. ^ national accounts data (www.abs.gov.au)
  2. ^ snailish (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ per capita recession (www.news.com.au)
  4. ^ Marilyn Waring (www.marilynwaring.com)
  5. ^ If Women Counted (www.marilynwaring.com)
  6. ^ comments (www.abs.gov.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/australians-still-feeling-pain-in-the-hip-pocket-but-there-are-positive-signs-of-growth-ahead-245150

Times Magazine

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

CNC Machining Meets Stage Design - Black Swan State Theatre Company & Tommotek

When artistry meets precision engineering, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Tommotek worked alongside the Black Swan State Theatre Company on several of their innovative stage productions. With tight deadlines and intrica...

Uniden Baby Video Monitor Review

Uniden has released another award-winning product as part of their ‘Baby Watch’ series. The BW4501 Baby Monitor is an easy to use camera for keeping eyes and ears on your little one. The camera is easy to set up and can be mounted to the wall or a...

The Times Features

Running Across Australia: What Really Holds the Body Together?

How William Goodge’s 3,800km run reveals the connection between movement, mindset, and mental resilience As a business owner, I’ve come to realise that the biggest wins rarely com...

Telehealth is Transforming Healthcare Services in Australia

It has traditionally not been easy to access timely healthcare in Australia, particularly for people who live in remote areas. Many of them spend hours on the road just to see a...

Launchd Acquires Huume, Strengthening Creative Firepower Across Talent-Led Marketing

Launchd, a leader in talent, technology and brand partnerships, has announced its acquisition of influencer talent management agency Huume from IZEA. The move comes as the medi...

Vietnam's "Gold Coast" Emerges as Extraordinary Investment Frontier and Australian Inspired Way of Life

$2 Billion super-city in Vung Tau set to replicate Australia's Gold Coast success story A culturally metamorphic development aptly named "Gold Coast" is set to reshape Vietna...

Choosing the Wrong Agent Is the #1 Regret Among Aussie Property Sellers

Selling your home is often one of the largest financial transactions you’ll make, and for many Australians, it’s also one of the most emotional. A new survey of Australian home se...

Travel Insurance for Families: What Does it Cover and Why it’s Essential

Planning a family trip is exciting, but unexpected mishaps can turn your dream vacation into a stressful ordeal. That’s where travel insurance comes in—it’s your safety net when ...