1307.4 - South Australian Economic Indicators, Dec 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/12/2003   
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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication provides an up-to-date overview of the South Australian economy and contrasts the State's performance with that of the Australian economy. It provides details of movements in a range of economic indicators and also contains time series information.


MAIN FEATURES

The data in this Overview are presented in trend terms, unless otherwise stated.


INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The value of South Australian merchandise exports (in original terms) for the month of September 2003 was $664.9m. This was an increase of 3.8% over August 2003 but was 12.9% less than the value of exports in September 2002 ($763.6m).

The value of South Australian merchandise imports (in original terms) for September 2003 was $434.0m. This was an increase of 1.8% from $426.5m recorded in August 2003 and 8.6% less than the September 2002 figure of $474.6m.


Graph - Merchandise Exports and Imports



CONSUMPTION AND INVESTMENT

In the twelve months to September 2003 retail turnover increased by 2.1% to $1,100.6m. This was a decrease of 0.4% from the August 2003 figure of $1,105.1m.

October 2003 saw a total of 5,439 new motor vehicle sales- an increase of 1.0% on the previous month's figure of 5,383 vehicles, and 22.4% higher than the 4,444 vehicles recorded in October 2002.


Graph - Retail Turnover
Graph - New Motor Vehicle Sales


National Accounts figures for 2002-03 year showed that state final demand in South Australia increased by 10.2% from the previous year, to $55.2 billion. Household consumption expenditure grew by 8.3% from 2001-02 to $33.5 billion, and private gross capital formation also increased by 25.3% to $10.5 billion. Gross state product rose by 3.4% to $48.9 billion for 2002-03.


HOUSING

In September 2003 the estimated number of dwelling units approved in South Australia was 923, having risen for the last five months. The trend for private sector houses has continued to rise for the last seven months.



Graph - Dwelling Units Approved



CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The all groups consumer price index in Adelaide for the September quarter 2003 was 145.4, an increase of 3.6% on the level recorded for the September 2002 quarter and up 0.8% on the June quarter 2003.


Graph - Consumer Price Index



LABOUR FORCE AND DEMOGRAPHY

The estimate of employed persons in South Australia was 714,000 persons in October 2003 and was 2.6% higher than the level of twelve months ago (696,200 persons). The total number of persons employed full-time in South Australia was 497,200 in October 2003, 3.4% higher than the October 2002 estimate of 480,800.

In October 2003, the unemployment rate for South Australia was 6.0%. The estimate of the participation rate in South Australia rose from 60.7% in October 2002 to 61.6% in October 2003.


Graph - Employed Persons
Graph - Unemployment Rates- Trend
FINANCIAL MARKETS

The value of secured housing finance commitments (excluding alterations and additions) was $676.4m in September 2003. This was an increase of 0.9% over the previous month and 34.6% over the value of commitments in September 2002 ($502.5m).

Graph - Secured Housing Finance Commitments
(a) Excludes alterations and additions. Includes re-financing.


For further information about these and related statistics, contact Ann Halford on Adelaide 08 8237 7408, or any ABS office.