Australian Outlook: Navigating Australia’s economic headwinds
Dec 7, 2023
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The podcast discusses Australia's economic challenges such as softening growth, persistent inflation, and a weaker labor market. It also examines key factors to monitor and their implications for the RBA, bond market, and investors. The analysis includes topics like the labor market, fixed income markets, and navigating Australia's economic outlook.
Australia's long-term growth outlook suggests slower GDP growth, with pockets of stress in lower income households and rate-sensitive sectors.
Household spending in Australia is expected to further slow due to high mortgage rates, cost of living pressures, and a potential rise in the unemployment rate.
Deep dives
Long-term macroeconomic outlook
The long-term growth outlook for Australia suggests that GDP growth will likely run below trend, although recession is not expected. Lower income and highly-indebted households, as well as rate-sensitive sectors, are experiencing pockets of stress. Australia has been lacking in the inflationary cycle due to inertia in the wage setting process, and the progress in reaching the RBA's inflation target has been slower compared to peer countries. While the RBA has already raised the policy rate, there is disagreement among investors regarding its appropriate level. A further increase in the cash rate is expected, followed by a period of monetary policy stability until cuts begin in 2025.
Consumers' employment and housing market
Household spending in Australia is already falling per capita and is expected to slow further due to factors such as high mortgage rates, ongoing cost of living pressures, and negative real household disposable income. While the labor market is starting from a position of strength, with low unemployment and high participation rates, early signs of loosening are being observed. The unemployment rate is anticipated to rise to around 4.6% by the end of 2024, which could add stress to some households. One risk to watch for is a faster deterioration in the labor market, which could prompt rate cuts by the RBA. Overall, consumer spending will be impacted by these factors.
Macro Rates Strategist Robert Thompson analyzes Australia’s challenges such as softening growth, persistent inflation, and a weaker labor market heading into 2024, as well as examining key swing factors to monitor and what this all means for the RBA, bond market and investors.
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