1307.4 - South Australian Economic Indicators, Mar 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/03/2005  Ceased
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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 and social indicators.

IMPORTANT NOTE

This is the final issue of South Australian Economic Indicators (cat. no. 1307.4).

Development of a replacement product is currently underway. If you would like to be notified of the release of this replacement product, please contact Liz Finlay on ph: (08) 8237 7417 or alternatively e-mail <elizabeth.finlay@abs.gov.au>.

OVERVIEW

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

Included in this overview are Statistical Summary tables showing comparisons between South Australia and Australia for a variety of economic and social indicators. Also included is a State Summary, showing the performance of all states and territories for selected indicators.

Further detail on all the indicators shown below can be obtained by accessing the latest data cube attached to this publication. This data cube is available within the Related Links section on this page.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The value of South Australian merchandise exports (in original terms) for the month of December 2004 was $635.2m. This was an increase of 5.5% from the previous month but a decrease of 11.2% from December 2003 ($715.0m).

The value of South Australian merchandise imports (in original terms) for December 2004 was $430.8m. This was a decrease of 15.5% from the $509.9m recorded in November 2004, but 3.7% more than the December 2003 figure of $415.5m.

Merchandise Exports and Imports

Graph: Merchandise exports and imports
- See International Merchandise Imports, Australia (Timeseries, cat. no. 5439.0), International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (cat. no. 5368.0)


CONSUMPTION AND INVESTMENT

Total retail turnover decreased 0.2% from November 2004 ($1,205.8m) to $1,203.2m in December 2004. This was 1.5% more than the figure recorded for total retail turnover in December 2003 ($1,185.5m).

Retail Turnover


Graph: Retail Turnover, Trend and Seasonally adjusted
- See Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0)


January 2005 saw a total of 5,274 new motor vehicle sales. This was 0.9% higher than the sales recorded in January 2004 (5,227).

New Motor Vehicle Sales

Graph: New motor vehicle sales
- See Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia (cat. no. 9314.0)


HOUSING

The estimated total number of dwelling units approved in December 2004 in South Australia was 820, 1.6% lower than in November 2004 (833). The number of dwelling units approved declined by 16.6% in the year to December 2004.

Dwelling Units Approved

Graph: Number of dwelling unit approved, trend and seasonally adjusted.
See Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0)



CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The all groups consumer price index in Adelaide for the December quarter 2004 was 150.0, an increase of 2.6% on the level recorded for the same period in 2003 and an increase of 0.7% on the September quarter 2004.

Consumer Price Index

Graph: Consumer price index
- See Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0)


LABOUR FORCE AND DEMOGRAPHYY

The trend estimate of employed persons in South Australia was 728,900 in January 2005, 13,200 or 1.8% higher than in January 2004. In January 2005 there were 503,600 persons employed full-time in South Australia compared with 489,200 in January 2004.


Employed Persons

Graph: Employed persons

The trend estimate of the unemployment rate for the state was 5.3% in January 2005, lower than the January 2004 estimate of 6.6%. The participation rate in South Australia was 61.4% in January 2005 compared with 61.6% in January 2004.

Unemployment Rate - Trend


Graph: Unemployment rate - trend
- See Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0)


FINANCIAL MARKETS

The value of secured housing finance commitments for owner occupation was $691.6m in December 2004. This was an increase of 1.5% from the previous month and 9.4% more than the value of commitments in December 2003 ($631.9m).
Secured Housing Finance Commitments (a)

Graph: Secured housing finance commitments
(a) Excludes alterations and additions. Includes refinancing.
- See Housing Finance, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0)







STATISTICAL SUMMARY Part 1
South Australia
Australia
% change from
% change from
Indicator
Period
Number
Previous
period
Same period previous year
Number
Previous
period
Same period
previous
year
SA as a
% of Australia
Source index
State accounts
Domestic final demand
Chain volume measures trend
($m)
Sep qtr 04
14,942
1.0
4.4
209,885
0.8
4.9
7.1
1
Private final consumption expenditure
Current prices trend ($m)
Sep qtr 04
9,258
1.2
6.2
125,755
1.4
6.7
7.4
1
Chain volume measures trend
($m)
Sep qtr 04
8,970
0.6
4.2
123,168
1.0
5.3
7.3
1
Private gross fixed capital formation
Current prices trend ($m)
Sep qtr 04
2,938
2.7
5.0
43,542
1.0
5.6
6.7
1
Chain volume measures trend
($m)
Sep qtr 04
2,946
2.5
5.3
42,848
0.6
5.0
6.9
1
Compensation of employees
Current prices trend ($m)
Sep qtr 04
6,272
2.5
6.3
98,463
1.5
6.2
6.4
1
International accounts
Exports ($m)
Dec 04
635.2
5.5
-11.2
10,637.1
5.7
15.2
6.0
2
Imports ($m)
Dec 04
430.8
-15.5
3.7
12,404.8
-5.7
13.0
3.5
2
Consumption and investment
Retail turnover
Current prices original ($m)
Dec 04
1,575.3
25.8
4.0
21,356.6
25.6
3.7
7.4
3
Current prices trend ($m)
Dec 04
1,203.2
-0.2
1.5
16,403.5
-0.3
1.9
7.3
3
Chain volume measures original
($m)
Dec qtr 04
4,018.6
14.9
2.1
54,693.8
13.8
2.5
7.3
3
New motor vehicle sales
Original (no.)
Jan 05
4,466
-10.6
3.0
69,565
-11.9
7.4
6.4
4
Trend (no.)
Jan 05
5,274
-0.2
0.9
82,675
0.6
6.2
6.4
4
Private new capital expenditure
Current prices original ($m)
Dec qtr 04
1,080
30.3
0.1
14,965
17.0
8.6
7.2
5
Current prices trend ($m)
Dec qtr 04
943
-1.3
-3.6
13,779
3.7
7.9
6.8
5
Private new capital expenditure
($m)
2003-04
3,948
-1.4
..
51,247
0.9
..
7.6
5
Tourist accommodation takings
($m)
Sep qtr 04
62.7
2.9
3.5
1,485.7
16.3
8.2
4.2
6
Production
Dwelling unit approvals
Original (no.)
Dec 04
874
-3.1
-26.7
12,790
-2.3
-10.9
6.8
7
Trend (no.)
Dec 04
820
-1.6
-16.6
12,415
-1.1
-16.4
6.6
7
Dwelling units commenced (no.)
Sep qtr 04
2,434
-3.6
-4.3
42,532
1.8
-2.9
5.7
8
Value of non-residential building
approvals- trend ($m)
Dec 04
68.8
-5.1
-32.5
1,364.7
-1.8
3.0
5.0
7777
Value of total building activity
Commenced ($m)
Sep qtr 04
659.4
-3.9
-5.7
13,936.9
3.2
8.2
4.7
8
Work done ($m)
Sep qtr 04
827.1
9.2
23.2
14,713.1
4.5
14.7
5.6
8
Work yet to be done ($m)
Sep qtr 04
1,162.0
-9.1
5.7
23,850.9
0.8
10.7
4.9
8
Value of engineering construction
work done ($m)
Sep qtr 04
377.7
-22.5
-14.1
7,224.8
-4.8
15.7
5.2
9
Manufacturing production
Red meat trend (tonnes)
Dec qtr 04
60,720
2.9
2.9
771,769
-0.0
3.9
7.9
10
Mineral exploration expenditure
(other than for petroleum) ($m)
Sep qtr 04
15.5
-1.3
66.7
251.1
4.0
40.2
6.2
11



STATISTICAL SUMMARY Part 2
South Australia
Australia
% change from
% change from
Indicator
Period
Number
Previous
period
Same period previous year
Number
Previous
period
Same period
previous year
SA as a
% of Australia
Source index
Prices (a)
CPI- All groups (index no.)
Dec qtr 04
150.0
0.7
2.6
146.5
0.8
2.6
..
12
Price index of materials used in
house building (index no.)
Dec qtr 04
142.9
0.6
4.1
138.3
0.8
3.5
..
13
Price index of established houses
(index no.)
Sep qtr 04
235.8
1.3
13.8
250.3
-0.7
8.2
..
14
Price index of project homes (index
no.)
Sep qtr 04
169.5
0.0
5.5
160.3
1.2
6.0
..
14
Labour force and demography
Population (resident at end qtr)
('000)
Jun qtr 04
1,534.3
0.1
0.5
20,111.3
0.2
1.2
7.6
15
Natural increase of the population
('000)
Jun qtr 04
1,559.0
-6.8
12.4
35,259.0
33.8
19.1
4.4
15
Labour Force
Original ('000)
Jan 05
768.6
-1.2
0.7
10,343.7
-1.3
2.5
7.4
16
Trend ('000)
Jan 05
769.6
0.078
0.457
10,378.0
0.192
2.134
7.4
16
Employed persons
Original ('000)
Jan 05
719.6
-2.7
1.7
9,764.6
-1.8
3.2
7.4
16
Trend ('000)
Jan 05
728.9
0.2
1.8
9,851.6
0.3
2.9
7.4
16
Participation rate
Original (b) (%)
Jan 05
61.3
-0.8
-0.1
63.7
-0.9
0.6
..
16
Trend (b) (%)
Jan 05
61.4
0.0
-0.2
63.9
0.1
0.4
..
16
Unemployment rate
Original (b) (%)
Jan 05
6.4
1.4
-1.0
5.6
0.6
-0.6
..
16
Trend (b) (%)
Jan 05
5.3
-0.1
-1.3
5.1
0.0
-0.6
..
16
Job vacancies ('000)
Nov 04
7.5
7.2
86.1
137.1
7.4
29.7
5.5
17
Industrial disputes ('000 working
days lost)
Sep qtr 04
1.1
-26.7
-69.4
93.3
-39.5
-43.9
1.2
18
Income
Average weekly earnings (full-time;
ordinary time)
Original ($)
Nov qtr 04
904.50
1.1
4.2
973.20
1.4
4.1
..
19
Trend ($)
Nov qtr 04
907.60
1.6
4.8
973.20
1.1
3.6
..
19
Labour price index (total hourly rate
excluding bonuses) (c)
(index no.)
Dec qtr 04
103.3
1.3
3.4
103.3
1.0
3.6
..
20
Financial markets
Secured housing finance (d)
Original ($m)
Dec 04
754.7
-1.6
8.9
11,270.1
-1.1
6.2
6.7
21
Trend ($m)
Dec 04
691.6
1.5
9.4
10,808.1
1.4
5.3
6.4
21
Finance commitments
Personal ($m)
Dec 04
396.8
-11.9
-14.2
6,392.0
-3.0
-5.4
6.2
22
Commercial ($m)
Dec 04
1,008.3
-14.5
-43.9
29,116.0
12.8
-5.4
3.5
22
Lease ($m)
Dec 04
17.5
0.6
-2.2
581.0
11.9
2.1
3.0
22
Interest rates (b)
Banks - new housing loans (%)
Dec 04
..
..
..
7.05
0.0
0.0
..
23
Banks - business loans
Small, medium businesses (e)
(%)
Dec 04
..
..
..
8.85
0.0
0.0
..
23
Large business (%)
Dec 04
..
..
..
8.85
0.0
0.0
..
23
(a) Base year of each index 1989-90 = 100.
(b) Change is shown in terms of percentage points.
(c) Base year of index 2003-04 = 100.
(d) Excludes alterations and additions. Includes refinancing.
(e) Rate for business loans over $50,000.



STATE SUMMARY

Source
Indicator
Period
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
index
SELECTED INDICATORS
CPI- All groups(a) (index no.)
Dec qtr 04
147.3
145.3
148.0
150.0
143.3
146.7
141.1
146.3
12
Participation rate trend (%)
Jan 05
62.4
64.3
65.7
61.4
66.3
58.6
69.9
73.1
16
Unemployment rate trend (%)
Jan 05
5.1
5.6
4.7
5.3
4.5
5.6
6.2
3.7
16
Average weekly earnings (full-time adults; ordinary time) trend ($)
Nov qtr 04
1,002.50
992.10
910.00
907.60
982.50
885.70
983.70
1,109.00
19
SELECTED INDICATORS PER HEAD OF POPULATION (b)
State final demand
Chain volume measures trend (c)
($'000)
Jun qtr 04
10.4
10.4
9.9
9.6
10.5
8.8
13.9
17.7
1
Retail turnover
Current prices original ($)
Dec 04
1,073.0
1,050.1
1,058.5
1,026.8
1,099.8
970.2
919.1
1,221.1
3
Current prices trend ($)
Dec 04
821.7
796.1
831.6
784.2
839.4
724.6
813.0
946.4
3
New motor vehicle sales
trend (no. per '000 population)
Jan 05
3.9
4.5
4.4
3.4
4.0
3.8
3.6
3.9
4
Private new capital expenditure
Current prices trend ($)
Dec qtr 04
594.1
591.0
666.9
614.6
1,205.7
572.5
1,945.8
567.9
5
Dwelling unit approvals
Original (no. per '000 population)
Dec 04
0.467
0.573
0.788
0.570
0.984
0.537
0.570
1.679
7
Trend (no. per '000 population)
Dec 04
0.422
0.663
0.839
0.543
0.951
0.498
0.510
0.358
7
Secured housing finance (d) ($)
Dec 04
611.7
517.6
558.1
491.9
633.1
336.2
505.2
431.5
21
PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS PERIOD
State final demand
Chain volume measures trend (c)
Jun qtr 04
1.1
1.1
1.6
1.4
1.0
0.6
0.6
0.9
1
Retail turnover
Current prices original
Dec 04
25.3
27.6
23.2
25.8
26.6
30.2
13.5
25.8
3
Current prices trend
Dec 04
-0.3
-0.2
-0.8
-0.2
-0.0
-0.1
-0.3
-0.1
3
New motor vehicle sales trend
Jan 05
0.9
0.8
0.5
-0.2
-0.2
1.3
-1.5
1.0
4
Private new capital expenditure
Current prices trend (e)
Dec qtr 04
3.5
2.2
4.8
-1.3
4.2
13.6
-5.1
10.2
5
Dwelling unit approvals
Original
Dec 04
6.0
-19.6
-2.2
-3.1
1.4
-4.4
28.1
98.5
7
Trend
Dec 04
-2.3
-1.3
-1.6
-1.6
-0.5
4.2
-4.9
19.8
7
CPI- All groups
Dec qtr 04
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.9
1.2
0.2
0.5
12
Participation rate trend (e)
Jan 05
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.2
-0.1
0.0
0.5
16
Unemployment rate trend (e)
Jan 05
0.0
-0.1
-0.1
-0.1
0.0
-0.1
-0.2
-0.1
16
Average weekly earnings (full-time adults;ordinary time) trend
Nov qtr 04
0.4
2.0
0.8
1.6
1.5
1.8
1.6
2.0
19
Secured housing finance (d)
Dec 04
-0.7
0.7
-3.4
-1.6
-3.4
14.0
-5.3
0.7
21
(a) Base year of index 1989-90=100.
(b) The latest quarterly estimate of Australian resident population has been used to calculate ratios for subsequent periods.
(c) Reference year for chain volume measures is 2001-02.
(d) Excludes alterations and additions. Includes refinancing.
(e) Change is shown in terms of percentage points.

SOURCE INDEX FOR STATISTICAL & STATE SUMMARY TABLES

1
    Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product (cat. no. 5206.0) - and ABS data available on request
2
    International Trade in Goods and Services (cat. no. 5368.0) Quarterly and International Merchandise Imports (cat. no. 5349.0) Monthly. Further detail available on request and in the associated data cubes.
3
    Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0) Monthly
4
    Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia (cat. no. 9314.0) Monthly
5
    Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure, Australia (cat. no.5625.0) Quarterly - and Ausstats data.
6
    Tourist Accommodation, Australia (cat. no. 8635.0) Quarterly
7
    Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0) Monthly
8
    Building Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8752.0) Quarterly
9
    Engineering Construction Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8762.0) Quarterly
10
    Livestock Products, Australia (cat. no. 7215.0) Quarterly - and ABS data available on request.
11
    Actual and Expected Private Mineral Exploration, Australia (cat. no. 8412.0) Quarterly
12
    Consumer Price Index (cat. no. 6401.0) Quarterly
13
    Producer Price Indexes, Australia (cat. no. 6427.0) Quarterly
14
    House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities (cat. no. 6416.0) Quarterly
15
    Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0) Quarterly
16
    Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) Monthly
17
    Job Vacancies, Australia (cat. no. 6354.0) Quarterly
18
    Industrial Disputes, Australia (cat. no. 6321.0) Monthly
19
    Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (cat. no. 6302.0) Quarterly
20
    Labour Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6345.0) Quarterly
21
    Housing Finance, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0) Monthly
22
    Lending Finance, Australia (cat. no. 5671.0) Monthly - and ABS data available on request.
23
    Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin