1307.4 - South Australian Economic Indicators (Reissue), Jan 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/12/2004   
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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 October 2004 was $665.6m. This was an increase of 2.2% from the previous month and 3.3% more than the value of exports in October 2003 ($644.7m).

The value of South Australian merchandise imports (in original terms) for October 2004 was $540.0m. This was an increase of 8.0% from the $500.0m recorded in September 2004, and 21.7% more than the October 2003 figure of $443.6m.


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

The chain volume measure of South Australian state final demand rose to $14,942m in the September quarter 2004, an increase of 1.0% over the June quarter 2004. This represented 4.4% growth over the previous twelve months.

Household consumption expenditure grew by 0.6% from the June quarter 2004 to be $8,970m for the September quarter 2004. Private gross fixed capital formation was $2,946m for the September quarter 2004, a figure 2.5% higher than the previous quarter and 5.3% higher than the September quarter 2003.

Total retail turnover continued its steady increase, with a positive movement of 0.1% from September 2004 ($1,214.8m) to $1,215.5m in October 2004. In the twelve month period from October 2003, total retail turnover increased by 4.1% from $1,167.7m.

Retail Turnover

Graph: Retail Turnover
- See Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501)

October 2004 saw a total of 5,465 new motor vehicle sales - an increase of 1.4% on the previous month. The October 2004 figure is 3.0% higher than the new vehicles sales recorded in October 2003 (5,306).

New Motor Vehicle Sales

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


HOUSING

In October 2004 the estimated total number of dwelling units approved in South Australia was 823, slightly lower than September 2004 (857) and also lower than the estimated total approved in October 2003 (1,033).

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 September quarter 2004 was 149.0, an increase of 2.5% on the level recorded for the same period in 2003 and up 0.3% on the June quarter 2004.

Consumer Price Index

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


LABOUR FORCE AND DEMOGRAPHY


The trend estimate of employed persons in South Australia was 725,000 in November 2004, higher than in November 2003 (715,700). The total number of persons employed full-time in South Australia was 500,300 in November 2004, compared with the November 2003 estimate of 492,300.

Employed Persons

Graph: Employed Persons

The trend estimate of the unemployment rate for South Australia was 5.5% in November 2004, lower than in November 2003 (6.5%). The trend estimate of the participation rate in South Australia was 61.3% in November 2004, slightly lower than in November 2003 (61.7%).

Unemployment Rate - Trend

Graph: Unemployment Rate - Trend
- See Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0)


FINANCIAL MARKETS

The value of secured housing finance commitments (excluding alterations and additions, and including refinancing) was $652.4m in October 2004. This was a increase of 0.7% from the previous month and 0.4% more than the value of commitments in October 2003 ($649.7m).

Secured Housing Finance Commitments (a)

Graph: Secured Housing Finance Commitments
(a) Excludes alterations and additions. Includes refinancing.
- See Housing Finance for Owner Occupation, 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
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
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
International accounts
Exports ($m)
Oct 04
665.6
2.2
3.3
10,640.7
1.9
17.4
6.3
2
Imports ($m)
Oct 04
540.0
8.0
21.7
12,795.7
-2.2
7.3
4.2
2
Consumption and investment
Retail turnover
Current prices original ($m)
Oct 04
1,229.1
4.3
1.4
16,803.0
3.3
2.4
7.3
3
Current prices trend ($m)
Oct 04
1,215.5
0.1
4.1
16,620.4
0.1
4.4
7.3
3
Chain volume measures original ($m)
Sep qtr 04
3,496.9
0.8
5.7
48,077.6
2.0
5.8
7.3
3
New motor vehicle sales
Original (no.)
Oct 04
5,413
2.3
-0.3
81,667
1.5
3.1
6.6
4
Trend (no.)
Oct 04
5,465
1.4
3.0
82,234
1.2
5.5
6.6
4
Private new capital expenditure
Current prices original ($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 ($m)
Jun qtr 04
60.9
-11.2
7.2
1,277.5
-8.7
10.2
4.8
6
Production
Dwelling unit approvals
Original (no.)
Oct 04
875
-2.6
-29.7
12,869
-4.8
-27.2
6.8
7
Trend (no.)
Oct 04
823
-4.0
-20.3
12,707
-3.0
-16.2
6.5
7
Dwelling units commenced (no.)
Jun qtr 04
2,546
2.0
0.6
43,804
0.2
7.6
5.8
8
Value of non-residential building approvals- trend ($m)
Oct 04
79.0
3.8
-40.6
1,528.5
1.6
10.1
5.2
7777
Value of total building activity
Commenced ($m)
Jun qtr 04
691.7
25.5
4.9
13,596.3
4.2
15.4
5.1
8
Work done ($m)
Jun qtr 04
764.1
7.0
18.8
14,139.4
9.6
19.6
5.4
8
Work yet to be done ($m)
Jun qtr 04
1,265.4
-0.7
21.6
23,702.1
1.1
13.4
5.3
8
Value of engineering construction work done ($m)
Jun qtr 04
449.7
12.8
22.6
7,499.0
13.6
46.6
6.0
9
Manufacturing production
Sep qtr 04
51,349
-3.6
-8.4
775,926
0.6
6.4
6.6
11
Red meat trend (tonnes)
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
12




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.)
Sep qtr 04
149.0
0.3
2.5
145.4
0.4
2.3
..
13
Price index of materials used in house building (index no.)
Sep qtr 04
142.0
1.0
3.3
137.2
0.8
3.2
..
14
Price index of established houses (index no.)
Sep qtr 04
235.8
1.3
13.8
250.3
-0.7
8.2
..
15
Price index of project homes (index no.)
Sep qtr 04
169.5
0.0
5.5
160.3
1.2
6.0
..
15
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
16
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
16
Labour Force
Original ('000)
Nov 04
760.8
-0.9
0.0
10,285.5
-0.2
2.1
7.4
17
Trend ('000)
Nov 04
767.4
-0.1
0.2
10,319.3
0.2
1.9
7.4
17
Employed persons
Original ('000)
Nov 04
723.9
-0.2
1.6
9,786.5
-0.1
2.6
7.4
17
Trend ('000)
Nov 04
725.0
0.1
1.3
9,770.7
0.3
2.5
7.4
17
Participation rate
Original (b) (%)
Nov 04
60.8
-0.6
-0.4
63.5
-0.2
0.4
..
17
Trend (b) (%)
Nov 04
61.3
-0.1
-0.4
63.7
0.1
0.3
..
17
Unemployment rate
Original (b) (%)
Nov 04
4.8
-0.8
-1.5
4.9
-0.1
-0.5
..
17
Trend (b) (%)
Nov 04
5.5
-0.2
-1.0
5.3
-0.1
-0.5
..
17
Job vacancies ('000)
Aug 04
7.0
15.0
8.6
127.6
4.0
17.3
5.5
18
Industrial disputes ('000 working days lost)
Sep qtr 04
1.1
-26.7
-69.4
93.3
-39.5
-43.9
1.2
19
Income
Average weekly earnings (full-time; ordinary time)
Original ($)
Aug qtr 04
895.00
2.2
3.6
962.90
1.4
3.6
..
20
Trend ($)
Aug qtr 04
891.80
1.4
3.0
960.00
0.7
3.2
..
20
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
..
21
Financial markets
Secured housing finance (d)
Original ($m)
Oct 04
611.2
-4.3
-10.5
9,951.0
-5.6
-14.2
6.1
22
Trend ($m)
Oct 04
652.4
0.7
0.4
10,248.6
0.3
-5.5
6.4
22
Finance commitments
Personal ($m)
Oct 04
428.7
4.7
-2.3
6,381.0
-0.5
-8.8
6.7
23
Commercial ($m)
Oct 04
1,022.5
3.8
-2.0
24,480.0
-13.1
-16.7
4.2
23
Lease ($m)
Oct 04
15.3
7.7
-34.1
504.0
-15.0
-19.6
3.0
23
Interest rates (b)
Banks - new housing loans (%)
Oct 04
..
..
..
7.05
0.0
0.50
..
24
Banks - business loans
Small, medium businesses (e) (%)
Oct 04
..
..
..
8.85
0.0
0.50
..
24
Large business (%)
Oct 04
..
..
..
8.85
0.0
0.50
..
24

(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.)
Sep qtr 04
146.2
144.2
146.8
149.0
142.0
145.0
140.8
145.5
13
Participation rate trend (%)
Nov 04
62.0
64.1
65.6
61.3
65.6
59.3
69.7
71.5
17
Unemployment rate trend (%)
Nov 04
5.2
6.0
4.8
5.5
4.5
6.2
7.3
4.2
17
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
20

SELECTED INDICATORS PER HEAD OF POPULATION(b)
State final demand
Chain volume measures trend (c)
($'000)
Sep qtr 04
10.3
10.5
10.2
9.7
10.7
9.0
13.5
18.2
1
Retail turnover
Current prices original ($)
Oct 04
844.0
813.3
858.4
801.1
848.5
729.9
852.0
961.8
3
Current prices trend ($)
Oct 04
829.8
805.5
853.0
792.2
844.0
730.4
823.2
951.9
3
New motor vehicle sales
Oct 04
3.8
4.4
4.5
3.6
4.1
3.9
3.9
3.7
4
trend (no. per '000 population)
Private new capital expenditure
Sep qtr 04
565.5
566.3
632.3
640.5
1,122.1
463.0
2,008.0
521.8
5
Current prices trend ($)
Dwelling unit approvals
Original (no. per '000 population)
Oct 04
0.423
0.722
0.823
0.570
0.984
0.539
0.400
0.231
7
Trend (no. per '000 population)
Oct 04
0.459
0.687
0.853
0.559
1.001
0.463
0.640
0.265
7
Secured housing finance (d) ($)
Oct 04
542.5
466.3
487.6
398.4
571.2
279.0
440.2
376.2
22

PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS PERIOD
State final demand
Chain volume measures trend (c)
Sep qtr 04
0.3
0.5
1.7
1.0
1.2
0.2
-1.1
0.9
1
Retail turnover
Current prices original
Oct 04
3.8
4.7
0.4
4.3
3.4
4.6
-1.7
4.7
3
Current prices trend
Oct 04
-0.1
0.4
-0.0
0.1
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.2
3
New motor vehicle sales trend
Oct 04
0.6
2.1
0.5
1.4
5.8
3.3
1.6
0.5
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
Oct 04
-13.2
6.2
-4.5
-2.6
-6.8
17.6
-62.1
-18.5
7
Trend
Oct 04
-6.9
-1.4
-0.1
-4.0
-1.2
-4.0
-4.7
-36.0
7
CPI- All groups
Sep qtr 04
0.5
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.7
0.5
0.9
0.5
13
Participation rate trend (e)
Nov 04
0.0
0.1
0.1
-0.1
0.2
0.0
-0.3
0.3
17
Unemployment rate trend (e)
Nov 04
-0.1
0.0
-0.2
-0.2
-0.1
-0.1
-0.1
0.1
17
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
20
Secured housing finance (d)
Oct 04
-7.0
-2.9
-5.8
-4.3
-5.8
-6.9
1.0
-13.5
22

(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
Manufacturing Production, Australia (cat. no. 8301.0) Quarterly
11
Livestock Products, Australia (cat. no. 7215.0) Quarterly - and ABS data available on request.
12
Actual and Expected Private Mineral Exploration, Australia (cat. no. 8412.0) Quarterly
13
Consumer Price Index (cat. no. 6401.0) Quarterly
14
Producer Price Indexes, Australia (cat. no. 6427.0) Quarterly
15
House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities (cat. no. 6416.0) Quarterly
16
Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0) Quarterly
17
Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0) Monthly
18
Job Vacancies, Australia (cat. no. 6354.0) Quarterly
19
Industrial Disputes, Australia (cat. no. 6321.0) Monthly
20
Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (cat. no. 6302.0) Quarterly
21
Labour Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6345.0) Quarterly
22
Housing Finance for Owner Occupation, Australia (cat. no. 5609.0) Monthly
23
Lending Finance, Australia (cat. no. 5671.0) Monthly - and ABS data available on request.
24
Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin