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MAIN FEATURES PRODUCTION CHAIN VOLUME MEASURES

			Trend				Seasonally adjusted
			% Change	% Change	% points contribution to		% Change	% Change	% points contribution to
			Dec 17 to	Mar 17 to	growth in GDP		Dec 17 to	Mar 17 to	growth in GDP
			Mar 18	Mar 18	Dec 17 to Mar 18		Mar 18	Mar 18	Dec 17 to Mar 18
Agriculture forestry and fishing			-2.2	-12.3	-0.1		-1.7	-13.1	-
Mining			1.3	2.5	0.1		2.9	4.2	0.2
Manufacturing			0.8	4.5	-		2.4	6.4	0.1
Electricity gas water and waste services			0.1	1.1	-		-0.1	-	-
Construction			0.5	4.4	-		-0.7	3.3	-0.1
Wholesale trade			0.6	0.5	-		1.2	0.5	0.1
Retail trade			0.3	2.2	-		0.6	2.5	-
Accommodation and food services			0.1	4.1	-		-1.3	3.3	-
Transport postal and warehousing			0.1	-0.1	-		0.2	-0.9	-
Information media and telecommunications			0.6	3.2	-		-0.4	3.4	-
Financial and insurance services			0.3	3.0	-		0.6	3.3	0.1
Rental hiring and real estate services			0.4	0.9	-		-0.4	0.2	-
Professional scientific and technical services			0.5	3.0	-		0.8	3.3	0.1
Administrative and support services			1.2	4.6	-		3.0	5.3	0.1
Public administration and safety			1.1	2.5	0.1		1.4	2.6	0.1
Education and training			0.5	2.1	-		0.5	2.2	-
Health care and social assistance			1.7	6.5	0.1		2.1	6.6	0.2
Arts and recreation services			1.6	4.5	-		1.8	4.6	-
Other services			1.8	4.9	-		1.4	5.7	-
Ownership of dwellings			0.6	2.3	-		0.6	2.4	0.1
Taxes less subsidies on products			0.1	4.2	-		-0.6	4.1	-
Statistical discrepancy (P)			na	na	-		na	na	0.3
Gross domestic product			0.7	2.8	0.7		1.0	3.1	1.0
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
na not available

• All estimates are in seasonally adjusted chain volume terms unless otherwise stated.

• Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing fell 1.7% driven by a fall in grains. This was partially offset by a rise in livestock. This was the fourth consecutive quarterly fall in gross value added for the industry.

• Mining rose 2.9% driven mainly by Oil and Gas Extraction (8.4%), Coal Mining (2.9%) and Iron Ore Mining (0.5%). This quarter featured the biggest rise in Coal Mining since September quarter 2014 due to strong demand for thermal coal. Exploration and Mining Services recorded a second consecutive quarterly fall, but was stronger through the year.

• Manufacturing grew 2.4% in March quarter 2018 and 6.4% through the year. This is the third positive quarterly growth in four quarters for the industry, although production remains low compared to levels recorded a decade ago. Food, Beverage and Tobacco Products (2.0%) experienced growth due to increased demand for meat exports, which remained strong during the quarter. The gains were partially offset by a fall in Petroleum, Coal, Chemical and Rubber Products (-2.2%).

• The Construction industry contracted by 0.7%, driven by falls in Building Construction (-0.6%) and Construction Services (-1.7%). The fall was in line with ongoing declines in approvals and commencements for new buildings. A rise in Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (1.4%) partially offset these falls.

• The Wholesale Trade industry grew 1.2% for the quarter driven by a rise in Other Goods and Grocery, Liquor and Tobacco Product Wholesaling. Machinery and Equipment Wholesaling fell during the quarter coming off a strong December quarter 2017, which was impacted by mobile phone releases.

• The Information, Media and Telecommunications industry experienced a 0.4% fall this quarter. This result was driven by Telecommunications Services (-0.5%) and Other Information and Media Services (-0.3%). Sales for major Telecommunications companies were coming off an increase associated with new phone releases in the previous quarter. Through the year however, both Telecommunication Services (4.9%) and Other Information and Media Services (1.7%) remained positive.

• The Financial and Insurance Services industry rose 0.6% this quarter following flat growth last quarter. The growth this quarter was driven by a rise in Other Financial and Insurance Services (1.8%).

• Rental, Hiring & Real Estate Services fell 0.4% driven by Property Operators and Real Estate Services. The fall was partly offset by an increase in car rental services, as well as a rise in machinery and equipment rental associated with the ongoing demand from public infrastructure projects.

• The Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry grew 0.8% in the March quarter 2018. This is the tenth consecutive positive growth, driven mainly by a rise in Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (2.5%). A fall in Computer System Design and Related Services partly offset the positive result.

• Administrative and Support Services rose 3.0% in the March quarter 2018. The division experienced its largest growth since December quarter 2010 due to a rise in specialised services to businesses. Hours worked for this division also exhibited a strong increase.

• The Health Care and Social Assistance industry rose 2.1%, driven by rises in both public and private health. The division grew 6.6% through the year.