1345.4 - SA Stats, Sep 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/09/2005   
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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication provides an overview of the South Australian economy. The overview will be updated on a quarterly basis (in September, December, March and June) and in the intervening months the publication will include feature articles that provide a South Australian focus on economic, social and environmental issues.

The data in this overview are presented in trend terms, unless otherwise stated. As this is an overview of a number of different economic statistics, Explanatory Notes are not included in SA Stats in the form found in other ABS publications. Readers are directed to the Explanatory Notes contained in related ABS publications.

If you have any comments about this new product please contact Damian Sparkes on ph: (08) 8237 7425 or alternatively e-mail damian.sparkes@abs.gov.au.


CONSUMPTION

Household final consumption expenditure increased by 0.4% to $9,265m in the June quarter 2005 (in chain volume terms).

In terms of percentage change (expressed in current prices), the components that recorded the largest increases over the quarter were health (up by $15m or 3.1%), with both education services and hotels, cafes & restaurants rising by 2.0% ($5m and $16m respectively). The purchase of vehicles experienced the largest fall (down by 2.9% or $7m). From the June 2004 quarter to the June 2005 quarter, total household final consumption expenditure rose by 4.0%.


Graph - Household final consumption expenditure, SA
Source: Australian National Accounts (cat. no. 5206.0)


In July 2005, the trend estimate for retail turnover rose by 0.3% from the previous month to $1,232.6m. The July 2005 estimate was 1.3% higher than the estimate at the same period last year.
Graph - Retail turnover, percent change from previous month, SA
Source: Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0)


Of the seven retail industry groups, recreational goods and hospitality & service industries recorded the largest increases over the three months to July 2005 (up by 4.9% and 3.8% respectively), while household goods and other retailing recorded the largest falls (3.1% and 2.4% respectively).

Graph - Retail turnover by industry group, percent change over last three months, SA
Source: Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0)


From June 2005 to July 2005, the trend estimate for sales of new motor vehicles fell by 1.6% to 5,215 vehicles. From July 2004 to July 2005, total sales decreased by 1.0% (53 vehicles). Over the same twelve month period, the sales of passenger vehicles rose by 1.2% (39 vehicles), sports utility vehicle sales fell by 7.9% (72 vehicles) and other vehicle sales fell by 2.0% (20 vehicles).

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


INVESTMENT

In the June quarter 2005, private new capital expenditure increased by 2.5% to $1,067m (in chain volume terms). Expenditure on equipment, plant and machinery grew by 2.2% to $827m while expenditure on buildings and structures rose 4.3% to $242m. Over the last 12 months to June 2005 expenditure on equipment, plant and machinery grew by 14.4%; expenditure on buildings and structures fell 0.8%; and total private new capital expenditure rose by 10.6%.

The total value of building approvals fell by 9.6% to $715.4m in the June quarter 2005 (chain volume measure). This fall was predominantly due to the large decrease in the value of approvals for non-residential building (down by 25.6% to $272.4m).

The value of total residential building approvals rose by 4.2% to $443.0m. The components of residential building approvals are shown in the following graph. The value of new housing approvals rose by 8.2% to $291.5m in the June 2005 quarter and the value of approvals for new other residential building fell by 16.7% to $73.3m. The value of approvals for alterations and additions (including refurbishment) rose to $78.2m. Over the year to June 2005, the value of approvals for residential building fell by 1.4% compared with a 8.3% increase in the value of non-residential building approvals.

Graph - Value of residential building approvals, SA
Source: Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0)


In July 2005, housing finance commitments fell by 0.8% to $720.6m. Over the 12 months to July 2005, these commitments have increased by 13.4%.

Graph - Housing finance commitments, SA
Source: Housing Finance, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0)

POPULATION

The estimated resident population for South Australia was 1,537,928 in December 2004. This was an increase in the estimated population growth of 1,618 from the September quarter 2004. Over the same period the number of births was 4,120 and the net overseas migration into South Australia was 1,456. Net interstate migration resulted in a loss of 1,063 people.
Graph - Population change, components, SA
Source: Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0)


LABOUR MARKET

In August 2005, the total number of employed persons increased by 0.04% to 743,200. Female employment rose to 337,800 and male employment fell to 405,400. Over the 12 months to August 2005 the total number of employed persons has increased by 3.0%, female employment has increased by 5.1% and male employment increased by 1.3%.

Graph - Total employed, SA
Source: Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0)


Since a peak in January 2004, there has been a steady decline in the overall unemployment rate. Male and female unemployment rates have shown a similar pattern. The male unemployment rate has steadily declined since February 2004 and the female unemployment rate has shown an overall steady decline since December 2003. In August 2005, the overall unemployment rate was 4.7%, the male unemployment rate was 5.1% and the female unemployment rate was 4.3%.

Graph - Unemployment rate, SA
Source: Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0)


From February 2005 to May 2005, the average weekly earnings for full-time adults (ordinary time earnings) increased by 1.4% to $932.00 per week. Female earnings rose by 1.1% to $862.40 while male earnings increased by 1.5% to $968.10.

Graph - Average weekly earnings, SA
Source: Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (cat. no. 6302.0)


CONSUMER PRICES

The all groups consumer price index (CPI) for Adelaide rose by 0.6% in the June quarter 2005. The all groups CPI for Adelaide has increased by 2.2% since the June quarter 2004.

Graph - CPI, all groups, SA & Aust
Source: Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0)


In the June quarter 2005, the groups which made the largest contribution to the CPI movement for Adelaide were health (3.3%), transportation (2.5%) and household furnishings, supplies & services (2.1%).

Graph - Contributors to CPI, Adelaide
Source: Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0)


INTERNATIONAL TRADE

In the month of July 2005, the value of merchandise exports increased by 23.7% to $709.8m (in original terms) while the value of merchandise imports also rose by 8.2% to $526.7m. Since the end of July 2004, the value of exports rose by 11.3% and the value of imports increased by 13.6%.

Over the 12 months to July 2005, the largest positive movements, in terms of the percentage change in the value of exports, were with the meat & meat preparations grouping (144.6%) followed by road vehicles, parts & accessories (86.2%) and metals & metal manufacture (23.1%).

The largest positive movements in the percentage change in the value of imports over the last twelve months (to July 2005) were in the petroleum & petroleum products group, which rose by 67.0%. Other import groups that made positive gains in the last twelve months were metals & metal manufactures (25.9%) and chemicals (22.8%).