Category Archives: Macroeconomy

Weird OECD create your own economy competition

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Gene Tunny

In principle, I think it’s a good idea that the OECD is reaching out to young people to get them interested in economic policy issues, but this video competition strikes me as weird: Think differently: How would you shape tomorrow’s … Continue reading →

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Top ten countries for imports to Qld and exports from Qld

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Gene Tunny

Based on today’s new ABS international trade statistics, I prepared the charts below, which show Japan and China are our top two export destinations and the US and China are our top two sources of imports: I was initially surprised by … Continue reading →

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Mining has been only “pillar” generating jobs

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Investment Corporation CEO Damien Frawley made some astute observations on the outlook for Queensland’s economy, which were reported in the Courier-Mail this morning: THE resources boom will leave a lasting legacy for Queensland’s economy regardless of when it runs … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Mining | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Federal fiscal restraint also contributed to Qld’s September qtr slowdown

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I’m grateful again to OESR for its repackaging and analysis of ABS data, as its National Accounts State Details brief released yesterday contains a handy table unpacking the September quarter fall in State Final Demand of 1.6%. I’ve reproduced the … Continue reading →

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Unemployment rate may have peaked

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Gene Tunny

There is great news in the ABS Labour force data for November that were released today. Unemployment may have peaked and hopefully we won’t see a repeat of the awful September quarter National Accounts result for Queensland that we saw … Continue reading →

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National Accounts confirm below trend growth – really bad result for Qld

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The ABS National Accounts confirm what everyone has suspected – i.e. the national economy is growing below its trend rate, at 0.5% in the September quarter, which translates to an annualised growth rate of 2%, when we really want something … Continue reading →

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Bunnings & Masters doing well, but clothing retailers struggling

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Yesterday’s retail turnover data from the ABS were unimpressive and have added to the case for a rate cut by the RBA Board today, which is almost a certainty. Our sluggish retail turnover reflects both Australia’s high savings rate in … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Retail trade | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pollies should be careful with jobs promises

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Former Premier Peter Beattie was fortunate that the mining boom came along and helped bring Queensland’s unemployment rate below the 5% he promised, but his successor Anna Bligh wasn’t so fortunate – the Queensland economy still hasn’t generated the 100,000 … Continue reading →

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Melbourne Cup day rate cut undesirable and unlikely

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Jessica Irvine makes an impassioned case for a Melbourne Cup day rate cut from the RBA (Giddy up Reserve Bank and give us an interest rate cut), but I don’t think the RBA Board will provide one. Data in recent … Continue reading →

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Latest Brisbane Economic Series issue – Energy and Resources

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The October 2012 issue of Brisbane Marketing’s Brisbane Economic Series covers energy and resources and is worth a read. I agree with the positive outlook for the Queensland economy expressed by Deloitte Access Economics: …despite a slowing of Queensland’s recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Macroeconomy, Mining, Uncategorized | Leave a comment