BLOGS WEBSITE

Slower growth in SA economy predicted for 2018/19

University of Adelaide economists say that they expect the South Australian economy to continue growing in 2018/19.
However, growth expectations have been revised down during the course of 2018, as a consequence of slower growth internationally and nationally, and because of slow household income growth in South Australia.
The University’s South Australian Centre for Economic Studies (SACES) […]

Posted in News, South Australian economy | Tagged , , , |

Leave a comment

A new life for Whyalla – Michael O’Neil and Peter Gill

Whyalla’s ‘death notice’ has been written a number of times over the past 40 years, beginning with the closure of the shipyards in 1978, continuing with predictions of doom in the lead-up to the carbon tax, and most recently, as what was once the BHP steelworks clung to life, suffocating in debt and despair under […]

Posted in Economic growth, Michael O'Neil, Peter Gill, South Australian economy | Tagged , , |

Leave a comment

Populate or perish – revisited, by Michael O’Neil and Peter Gill

When Australia’s first immigration minister, Arthur Calwell, declared Australia needed to “populate or perish” he was making a statement about the country’s vulnerability to invasion in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War.
While the context has changed, the recently published ABS population projections to 2066 underscores an ongoing vulnerability. However, this time, to take […]

Posted in Michael O'Neil, Peter Gill, public policy, South Australian economy | Tagged , , |

Leave a comment

SA Data Wrap – Spending growth slows as national house prices fall

Spending growth slows
Quarterly National Accounts data released by the ABS this week indicate that spending growth in South Australia has slowed through the course of the year. Quarterly growth in state final demand (SFD) in real trend terms slowed from 0.8 per cent in the March quarter to 0.4 per cent in the September quarter. […]

Posted in Anthony Kosturjak, data wrap, South Australian economy | Tagged , , , , |

Leave a comment

Regional gambling data points to a recovery in discretionary spending in key regional cities

Latest annual data on gaming machine activity in hotels and clubs suggests that gambling expenditure – i.e. player losses – has partially recovered in the key northern regional economies of Whyalla, Port Augusta and the group of councils comprising Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy and Flinders Ranges. These recoveries follow relatively large falls over earlier years […]

Posted in Anthony Kosturjak, Gambling Research, News | Tagged , , |

Leave a comment

A new start for Newstart? – Peter Gill & Michael O’Neil

Accountants have been known to say: ‘The maths don’t lie.’ If that’s the case then the calls by a range of commentators, including within the business sector, for an increase in the unemployment ‘benefit’, Newstart, have merit.
So what story do the numbers tell?
Newstart has not been increased in real terms since 1994. Adjusted only for […]

Posted in Michael O'Neil, Peter Gill, public policy, social economy | Tagged , |

Leave a comment

SA Data Wrap – Our ageing regions

In this edition of the Data Wrap we consider the latest regional population estimates which emphasise that not only do South Australian regions face demographic challenges in terms of falling or slow growing populations, but also population ageing. We also review the latest results in respect of retail sales, building approvals and job vacancies.
Our ageing […]

Posted in Anthony Kosturjak, data wrap, South Australian economy | Tagged , , , |

Leave a comment

SA Data Wrap – SA’s unemployment rate ticks up

In today’s Data Wrap we review the latest Labour Force Survey and National Accounts results which provide some of the best insight into recent macroeconomic trends for the state. We also consider the latest winter crop forecasts which have a significant bearing on the agricultural regions of the state.
Unemployment ticks up as employment growth stalls
South […]

Posted in data wrap, South Australian economy | Tagged , , |

Leave a comment

SA Data Wrap – Construction activity hits a new peak, labour market steady

In this edition of the Data Wrap we briefly review the latest data releases in respect of construction activity, the labour market, wages and the Local Government Price Index.
Construction activity rises to record level
Data released by the ABS yesterday shows that the construction industry in South Australia remains in good health overall. The total volume […]

Posted in data wrap | Tagged , , , , |

Leave a comment

SA Data Wrap – Construction conditions remain healthy despite York Civil’s voluntary administration

The news earlier this week that SA construction company York Civil has gone into voluntary administration came as a surprise, particularly considering that various indicators point to generally healthy conditions in the South Australian construction sector. In our latest Economic Briefing Report, we concluded that activity in the SA construction sector rose strongly over the […]

Posted in Anthony Kosturjak, data wrap, South Australian economy | Tagged , |

Leave a comment