1307.4 - South Australian Economic Indicators, Feb 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/02/2005   
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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.

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.


REVIEW OF THIS PUBLICATION

The production of the South Australian Economic Indicators (SAEI) publication is currently under review. Aspects of this publication to be reviewed include the format, frequency of release and data content. Comments and suggestions regarding potential changes are invited from interested parties.
Please direct feedback to Kirsten Hastwell on ph:(08) 8237 7369 or alternatively e-mail <kirsten.hastwell@abs.gov.au>.


IMPORTANT CHANGES

The wage cost index series has been renamed the wage price index series as from September quarter 2004, and has been re-based from September quarter 1997 to the financial year 2003-2004 = 100.0. The quarterly Wage Cost Index publication, now renamed Labour Price Index, has retained its catalogue number (6345.0) but will include annual non-wage costs, such as annual and public holiday leave, superannuation, workers' compensation and payroll tax. Further information about the new price index series is available through Labour Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2004, cat. no. 6351.0.55.001.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The value of South Australian merchandise exports (in original terms) for the month of November 2004 was $606.6m. This was a decrease of 8.8% from the previous month and 13.6% more than the value of exports in November 2003 ($533.8m).

The value of South Australian merchandise imports (in original terms) for November 2004 was $510.4m. This was a decrease of 5.8% from the $541.9m recorded in October 2004, but 25.5% more than the November 2003 figure of $406.8m.

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 0.1% from October 2004 ($1,211.5m) to $1,210.5m in November 2004. This was 2.8% more than the figure recorded for total retail turnover in November 2003 ($1,177.1m).

Retail Turnover


Graph: Retail turnover
- See Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0)


December 2004 saw a total of 5,157 new motor vehicle sales - a decrease of 1.4% on the previous month. The December 2004 figure is 2.3% lower than the new vehicles sales recorded in December 2003 (5,277).

New Motor Vehicle Sales

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


HOUSING

In November 2004, the estimated total number of dwelling units approved in South Australia was 804, 3.5% lower than in October 2004 (833) and also 21.3% lower than the estimated total approved in November 2003 (1,021).

Dwelling Units Approved

Graph: Dwelling units approved
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 up 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 727,900 in December 2004, higher than in December 2003 (715,500). The total number of persons employed full-time in South Australia was 501,500 in December 2004, compared with the December 2003 estimate of 490,100.

Employed Persons

Graph: Employed persons

The trend estimate of the unemployment rate for South Australia was 5.2% in December 2004, lower than in December 2003 (6.6%). The trend estimate of the participation rate in South Australia was 61.3% in December 2004, slightly lower than in December 2003 (61.6%).


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 $677.3m in November 2004. This was an increase of 1.9% from the previous month and 5.8% more than the value of commitments in November 2003 ($640.1m).
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 ($m)
Nov 04
606.6
-8.8
13.6
10,110.3
-5.1
16.6
6.0
2
Imports ($m)
Nov 04
510.4
-5.8
25.5
13,189.9
3.0
29.1
3.9
2
Consumption and investment
Retail turnover
Current prices original ($m)
Nov 04
1,252.5
1.9
1.9
16,999.1
1.2
2.0
7.4
3
Current prices trend ($m)
Nov 04
1,210.5
-0.1
2.8
16,549.8
-0.1
3.2
7.3
3
Chain volume measures original
($m)
Sep qtr 04
3,496.9
0.8
5.7
48,077.6
2.0
5.8
7.3
3
New motor vehicle sales
Original (no.)
Dec 04
4,998
-8.3
-7.5
78,980
-6.3
1.5
6.3
4
Trend (no.)
Dec 04
5,157
-1.4
-2.3
79,632
-0.8
2.5
6.5
4
Private new capital expenditure
Current prices original ($m)
Sep qtr 04
860
-21.5
-11.4
12,903
-5.3
1.0
6.7
5
Current prices trend ($m)
Sep qtr 04
982
1.4
-4.8
13,048
1.7
1.1
7.5
5
Private new capital expenditure
($m)
2003-04
3,948
-1.4
..
51,247
0.9
..
7.6
5
Tourist accommodation takings
($m)
Sep qtr 04
62.7
2.9
3.5
1,485.7
16.3
8.2
4.2
6
Production
Dwelling unit approvals
Original (no.)
Nov 04
903
1.9
8.5
13,139
1.7
-9.3
6.9
7
Trend (no.)
Nov 04
804
-3.5
-21.3
12,466
-2.1
-17.2
6.4
7
Dwelling units commenced (no.)
Sep qtr 04
2,434
-3.6
-4.3
42,532
1.8
-2.9
5.7
8
Value of non-residential building
approvals- trend ($m)
Nov 04
81.7
7.9
-31.9
1,479.7
-0.4
9.5
5.5
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)
Sep qtr 04
51,349
-3.6
-8.4
775,926
0.6
6.4
6.6
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)
Dec 04
778.0
2.3
0.1
10,475.6
1.8
2.0
7.4
16
Trend ('000)
Dec 04
767.8
-0.0
0.2
10,342.3
0.2
2.0
7.4
16
Employed persons
Original ('000)
Dec 04
739.2
2.1
1.8
9,947.1
1.6
2.7
7.4
16
Trend ('000)
Dec 04
727.9
0.2
1.7
9,810.5
0.3
2.6
7.4
16
Participation rate
Original (b) (%)
Dec 04
62.1
1.3
-0.4
64.6
1.1
0.3
..
16
Trend (b) (%)
Dec 04
61.3
0.0
-0.3
63.8
0.1
0.3
..
16
Unemployment rate
Original (b) (%)
Dec 04
5.0
0.2
-1.6
5.0
0.1
-0.7
..
16
Trend (b) (%)
Dec 04
5.2
-0.2
-1.4
5.1
-0.1
-0.7
..
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 ($)
Aug qtr 04
895.00
2.2
3.6
962.90
1.4
3.6
..
19
Trend ($)
Aug qtr 04
891.80
1.4
3.0
960.00
0.7
3.2
..
19
Labour price index (total hourly rate
excluding bonuses) (c)
(index no.)
Sep qtr 04
102.0
1.2
3.3
102.3
1.3
3.5
..
20
Financial markets
Secured housing finance (d)
Original ($m)
Nov 04
766.4
25.4
17.8
11,393.3
13.4
7.0
6.7
21
Trend ($m)
Nov 04
677.3
1.8
5.8
10,519.3
0.9
-0.4
6.4
21
Finance commitments
Personal ($m)
Nov 04
450.6
5.4
2.5
6,587.0
3.6
-2.9
6.8
22
Commercial ($m)
Nov 04
1,179.0
15.3
27.0
25,809.0
2.5
8.5
4.6
22
Lease ($m)
Nov 04
17.4
13.0
-1.1
519.0
5.1
-8.5
3.4
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 (%)
Dec 04
62.1
64.3
65.5
61.3
65.9
58.7
69.6
72.0
16
Unemployment rate trend (%)
Dec 04
5.1
5.8
4.7
5.2
4.4
5.9
6.5
4.2
16
Average weekly earnings (full-time adults; ordinary time) trend ($)
Aug qtr 04
997.50
963.80
906.50
891.80
963.30
871.50
967.40
1,075.30
19

SELECTED INDICATORS PER HEAD OF POPULATION(b)
State final demand
Chain volume measures trend (c)
($'000)
Jun qtr 04
10.4
10.4
9.9
9.6
10.5
8.8
13.9
17.7
1
Retail turnover
Current prices original ($)
Nov 04
856.0
823.1
858.9
816.4
868.5
744.9
809.7
970.6
3
Current prices trend ($)
Nov 04
826.4
803.3
847.3
789.0
842.4
726.3
816.5
947.0
3
New motor vehicle sales
trend (no. per '000 population)
Dec 04
3.7
4.3
4.3
3.4
3.9
3.5
3.6
3.7
4
Private new capital expenditure
Current prices trend ($)
Sep qtr 04
565.5
566.3
632.3
640.5
1,122.1
463.0
2,008.0
521.8
5
Dwelling unit approvals
Original (no. per '000 population)
Nov 04
0.441
0.712
0.823
0.589
0.960
0.562
0.445
0.846
7
Trend (no. per '000 population)
Nov 04
0.426
0.689
0.851
0.543
0.954
0.475
0.560
0.250
7
Secured housing finance (d) ($)
Nov 04
615.7
514.2
576.7
499.5
655.5
294.9
533.7
428.7
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
Nov 04
1.4
1.2
0.1
1.9
2.4
2.1
-5.0
0.9
3
Current prices trend
Nov 04
-0.2
0.1
-0.3
-0.1
0.2
-0.1
-0.2
-0.1
3
New motor vehicle sales trend
Dec 04
-0.9
0.2
-1.2
-1.4
-1.2
-2.0
-1.2
-0.2
4
Private new capital expenditure
Current prices trend (e)
Sep qtr 04
2.7
-1.1
4.4
1.4
0.3
10.9
-6.8
14.2
5
Dwelling unit approvals
Original
Nov 04
3.6
-1.4
-0.6
1.9
-2.7
4.2
11.3
265.3
7
Trend
Nov 04
-4.5
-0.4
-0.4
-3.5
-2.1
2.2
-13.4
-16.0
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)
Dec 04
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.2
-0.2
-0.2
0.2
16
Unemployment rate trend (e)
Dec 04
-0.1
-0.1
-0.1
-0.2
-0.1
-0.1
-0.3
0.1
16
Average weekly earnings (full-time adults;ordinary time) trend
Aug qtr 04
0.4
0.7
1.4
1.4
0.8
2.1
1.6
0.4
19
Secured housing finance (d)
Nov 04
13.5
10.3
12.7
25.4
14.8
5.7
21.0
13.9
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