1367.5 - Western Australian Statistical Indicators, Sep 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/10/2007   
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CONTENTS

Image: Feature ArticleFEATURE ARTICLES
Regional wage and salary earners in Western Australia - 2001-02 to 2003-04
Cultural diversity in Western Australia


Image: State AccountsSTATE ACCOUNTS
Growth in Western Australia's state final demand (trend chain volume measures) continued to accelerate over the last three quarters, rising from 1.3% ($346 million) in the September quarter 2006 to 3.8% ($1,083 million) in the June quarter 2007. Growth in the current quarter was the highest since the December quarter 2005 (3.9%) and was well above growth in all other states and territories, ahead of Queensland (2.4%), New South Wales (1.3%) and Tasmania (1.3%). Nationally, domestic final demand grew 1.6% in the June quarter 2007.

Image: PricesPRICES
Perth's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.4% in the June quarter 2007, the highest quarterly increase since the September quarter 2006. The rise follows a period of decelerating prices growth in Perth, from a high of 1.8% in June quarter 2006 to a low of 0.2% in March quarter 2007.

Image: ConsumptionCONSUMPTION
Growth in Western Australia's retail turnover (trend) slowed significantly, rising 1.5% ($95 million) to $6,295 million in the three months to July 2007, almost half the growth of 2.8% in the previous three month period. New motor vehicle sales (trend) in Western Australia rose 2.1% (640) to 30,576 in the three months to August 2007, compared to the previous three month period.

Image: Investment and FinanceINVESTMENT AND FINANCE
Private new capital expenditure (trend chain volume measures) in Western Australia increased 7.4% ($354 million) to $5,209 million in the June quarter 2007, higher than national growth of 5.3%. The number of dwellings financed for owner occupation (trend) in Western Australia has risen for six consecutive months to 8,824 commitments in July 2007, rebounding from eight months of rapid decline.

Image: ConstructionCONSTRUCTION
There were 4,579 houses (trend) approved for construction in Western Australia in the three months to July 2007, 1.1% (51) less than in the previous three month period. The number of house approvals (trend) in Western Australia has fallen for 18 consecutive months, between January 2006 and July 2007, by an average monthly rate of 1.1% (20 houses).

Image: TradeTRADE
Western Australia's international trade surplus continued to grow strongly through the year to June quarter 2007, rising 39.6% ($2,746 million) to $9,684 million. The value of Western Australia's exports rose 17.1% ($2,283 million) to $15,641 million through the year to June quarter 2007. The value of Western Australia's imports fell 7.2% ($463 million) to $5,956 million through the year to June quarter 2007.

Image: MiningMINING
Mineral exploration expenditure (trend) in Western Australia has continued to grow strongly, rising in each of the six quarters to June 2007, by an average rate of 8.5% ($15 million) per quarter. Production increased across most mineral and energy commodities in Western Australia through the year to June quarter 2007.

Image: TourismTOURISM
In the June quarter 2007, there were 50,342 overseas visitors flying into Western Australia on holiday, 13.7% (6,083) more than in the same period of 2006.


Image: Labour MarketLABOUR MARKET
There were 27,000 job vacancies in Western Australia in the May quarter 2007, 27.0% (5,800) more than in the same quarter of 2006. In the three months to August 2007, the number of employed persons (trend) in Western Australia grew 1.3% (14,800) to 1,116,600. The number of unemployed persons (trend) in Western Australia increased 7.5% (2,700) to 38,800 in the three months to August 2007, mainly attributable to more unemployed males (up 11.2% or 2,000).

Image: PopulationPOPULATION
The preliminary estimated resident population for Western Australia was 2,094,549 in the March quarter 2007, an increase of 13,582 persons (0.65%) from the previous quarter. The state's quarterly population growth was second highest behind Queensland (up 0.73%) but was well above the national increase of 0.46%.

Image: Social Trends -Population and HealthSOCIAL TRENDS - POPULATION AND HEALTH
In 2006, there were 342,600 full-time students attending primary and secondary schools in Western Australia, an increase of 1.3% from the 338,300 in 2005. In 2006, 70% of 15-19 year-olds in Western Australia were participating in formal education, similar to the participation rate in 2005 (70%), but below the national average of 78%.