The Conference Board CEI for Australia increased again in January, as retail sales continued to make a very large positive contribution to the index. The six-month change in the index has increased to 2.3 percent (a 4.6 percent annual rate) in the period through January, up from 0.5 percent (a 1.1 percent annual rate) for the previous six months, and the strengths among its components have remained widespread. Meanwhile, real GDP fell at a 0.9 percent average annual rate in the second half of 2008 (including a decline of 2.1 percent annual rate for the fourth quarter).
The Conference Board LEI for Australia began to decrease in September 2008, and its pace of decline has picked up in recent months. The index is now falling at rates not seen since 2000-01. Meanwhile, The Conference Board CEI for Australia remains on an upward trend, although its growth over the past two months can be attributed primarily to a large jump in retail sales fueled by the economic stimulus package. All in all, the continued decline in the LEI suggests that the economy will remain weak in the near term.
LEADING INDICATORS
Three of the seven components in The Conference Board LEI for Australia increased in January. The positive contributors to the index - in order from the largest positive contributor to the smallest - are real money supply, the sales to inventories ratio, and rural goods exports. Building approvals, share prices, gross operating surplus, and the yield spread declined.
With the 0.6 percent decrease in January, The Conference Board LEI for Australia now stands at 111.2 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index declined 1.1 percent in December and declined 1.3 percent in November. During the six-month period through January, the leading economic index decreased 3.8 percent, and four of the seven components increased (diffusion index, six-month span equals 57.1 percent).
COINCIDENT INDICATORS
Two of the four components in The Conference Board CEI for Australia increased in January. The increases - in order from the larger positive contributor to the smaller - occurred in retail trade and household gross disposable income. Industrial production declined in January, while employment remained unchanged.
With the increase of 0.6 percent in January, The Conference Board CEI for Australia now stands at 113.1 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index increased 0.8 percent in December and increased 0.1 percent in November. During the six-month period through January, the coincident economic index increased 2.3 percent, with three of the four components in the series making positive contributions (diffusion index, six-month span equals 75.0 percent).
