1360.0 - Measuring Australia's Economy, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/02/2003   
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Contents >> Section 5. Production and Industry >> Industry Economic Activity

There were 610,893 operating businesses in all industries (except agriculture, forestry and fishing) in Australia in 2000-2001. This number of operating businesses increased by 5.2% over the period from 1996-97 to 2000-2001. Operating profit before tax (OPBT) increased by 38% over the same period.

                        OPERATING PROFIT BEFORE TAX (a), Australia


OPBT in 2000-01 was $126,802m, an increase of 13% ($14,887m) over 1999-2000, the highest percentage increase over the five year period. The largest percentage increase in OPBT occurred in the Mining industry (95%), followed by the Private Community Services (33%) and Finance and Insurance (32%)industries. The largest decrease occurred in the Transport and Storage industry (24%).


TOTAL OPERATING PROFIT BEFORE TAX (a)
Industry
1996–97

$m
1997–98

$m
1998–99

$m
1999–2000

$m
2000–01

$m

Mining
7,563
6,784
7,380
8,191
15,998
Manufacturing
13,072
13,601
13,146
16,042
15,509
Electricity, gas and water supply
4,212
4,800
5,058
5,150
4,599
Construction
3,152
3,144
4,174
4,195
3,669
Wholesale trade
5,889
5,513
7,566
8,097
6,237
Retail trade
5,185
5,881
6,100
6,193
5,511
Accommodation, cafes and restaurants
1,880
2,158
1,612
1,671
1,353
Transport and storage
3,564
3,671
3,855
3,096
2,369
Communication services
1,989
4,603
6,153
6,105
6,406
Finance and insurance
30,199
34,275
37,930
33,544
44,344
Property and business services
9,608
10,032
10,316
11,817
12,625
Private community services
3,486
3,924
3,787
3,355
4,455
Cultural and recreational services
927
1,843
2,609
3,121
2,536
Personal and other services
963
1,465
925
1,337
1,189
All industries (a)
91,689
101,693
110,609
111,915
126,802


(a) All industries, excluding agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Source: Business Operations and Industry Performance Australia, 2000-01 (8140.0).


Explanatory Notes

Annual measures of industry economic activity are available from the ABS Economic Activity Survey (EAS). EAS collects data based on profit and loss and balance sheet accounts of public corporations and private employing businesses in most industries of the Australian economy. Non-employing businesses and the general government sector are excluded from the estimates shown in the above table and graph. Since 1994-95, estimates using a combination of data from the EAS and business income tax data provided to the Australian Taxation Office have also been produced and these are presented in the publication Australian Industry (8155.0), as are estimates for non-employing businesses from 2000-01.

Data for the goods producing industries are collected via industry-specific collections such as the Manufacturing Survey and rotating Service Industry Surveys, which carry additional EAS questions. These and data sourced from other ABS collections are merged with EAS data to give a complete economy wide picture.

EAS output includes details of income and expenditure, profit, assets and liabilities. A number of ratios are provided, including measures of profitability, performance and indebtedness. The estimates are classified by industry. For many subdivisions separate statistics are also available for large businesses and small and medium businesses whose definitions are based on employment and assets.

EAS data are used to analyse the performance of various industries. They are also an important input into the compilation of supply and use tables, from which annual estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) and input-output tables are derived.

Further Reading

Business Operations and Industry Performance, Australia (8140.0)
Provides economic statistics, including aggregates and ratios, for public corporations and private employing businesses in most industries of the Australian economy.

Australian Industry, Australia (8155.0)
Presents estimates derived using a combination of data from the Economic Activity Survey and business income tax data provided to the Australian Taxation Office. The estimates include total income and expenses, and operating profit before tax. Experimental estimates are also included, which provide income and expense items at the 3 and 4 digit ANZSIC level.

Note: From 2001-03, a new set of publications will be released presenting the full range of statistics currently presented in 8140.0 and 8155.0. These will be compiled using EAS and business income tax data. Please contact the ABS for details of the catalogue numbers for these publications.



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