World
Australia: the economy in numbers
The economy grew 2.1% in Q2 2026; inflation was 3.9% in Jun 2026; the policy rate is 4.35%. Every reading tipsheet tracks for Australia, with its history and what is usual for it. Readings Australia does not publish openly are listed, not dropped.
Written for investors following Australia from India.
Snapshot
The latest reading of each measure, the period it is for, the reading a year earlier and where today's sits in the economy's own history since 2000 (100 = the highest).
| Measure | Latest | Period | A year earlier | Percentile | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | +2.1% | Q2 2026 | +1.9 | 28 | OECD |
| Exports, US$ | +18.5% | Jun 2026 | −2.9 | 72 | IMF (derived) |
| Leading indicator | 100.0 | Aug 2026 | 100.2 | 57 | OECD |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | Aug 2026 | 4.2 | 27 | OECD |
| Consumer price inflation | 3.9% | Jun 2026 | 2.1 | 84 | BIS |
| Core inflation (ex food and energy) | 3.5% | Aug 2026 | 2.9 | – | OECD |
| Producer prices | +3.6% | Feb 2021, stopped | −1.1 | 55 | IMF (derived) |
| Policy rate | 4.35% | 24 Sep | 3.60 | 62 | BIS |
| 10-year government bond yield | 5.28% | Sep 2026 | 4.30 | 65 | OECD |
| Private credit and credit gap | −9.7 pp | Q1 2026 | −13.5 | 37 | BIS |
| Currency against the dollar, daily | +5.5% | 2 Oct | −4.5 | 66 | FRED (DEXUSAL) |
| Real effective exchange rate | 116.1 | Aug 2026 | 106.1 | 83 | BIS |
| Stock market return | −3.4% | 5 Oct | +9.6 | 23 | index history (returns only) |
| Current account | US$ −64 bn | Q2 2026 | −44 | 5 | IMF (derived) |
| Trade balance | US$ +7 bn | Jun 2026 | +30 | 61 | IMF (derived) |
| FX reserves | +12.7% | Aug 2026 | +3.7 | 62 | IMF (derived) |
| Government debt, % of GDP | 53% | Q1 2026 | 52 | 92 | BIS |
| Budget balance, % of GDP | −3.9% | 2025 | −2.8 | 19 | OECD |
| House prices, real | +4.2% | Q2 2026 | +1.9 | 49 | BIS |
Not published openly and on time, so not shown: industrial production, retail sales volume, inflation expectations, money supply growth.
Growth and jobs
Output, factories, shops, exports, the leading indicator and unemployment.
Real GDP growth: +2.1% in Q2 2026, up from +1.9 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Exports, US$: +18.5% in Jun 2026, up from −2.9 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Leading indicator: 100.0 in Aug 2026, down from 100.2 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Unemployment rate: 4.6% in Aug 2026, up from 4.2 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Prices
Consumer prices, the core measure without food and energy, producer prices and expected inflation.
Consumer price inflation: 3.9% in Jun 2026, up from 2.1 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Core inflation (ex food and energy): 3.5% in Aug 2026, up from 2.9 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Producer prices: +3.6% in Feb 2021 (series stopped)
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Interest rates and money
The central bank's rate, the government's borrowing cost, the central bank's balance sheet, money and credit.
Policy rate: 4.35% on 24 Sep, up from 3.60 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
10-year government bond yield: 5.28% in Sep 2026, up from 4.30 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Private credit and credit gap: −9.7 pp in Q1 2026, up from −13.5 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
The currency and the stock market
The currency's value in dollars over a year, its real trade-weighted value, and the stock market's one-year return.
Currency against the dollar, daily: +5.5% on 2 Oct, up from −4.5 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Real effective exchange rate: 116.1 in Aug 2026, up from 106.1 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Stock market return: −3.4% on 5 Oct, down from +9.6 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Trade, reserves and the government
What the economy earns from the world, its reserves, its government's debt and deficit, and house prices.
Current account: US$ −64 bn in Q2 2026, down from −44 a year earlier
US$ billion, summed over the last 12 months (or 4 quarters). Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Trade balance: US$ +7 bn in Jun 2026, down from +30 a year earlier
US$ billion, summed over the last 12 months (or 4 quarters). Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
FX reserves: +12.7% in Aug 2026, up from +3.7 a year earlier
% on a year earlier. Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Government debt, % of GDP: 53% in Q1 2026, up from 52 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
Budget balance, % of GDP: −3.9% on 2025, down from −2.8 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
House prices, real: +4.2% in Q2 2026, up from +1.9 a year earlier
Shaded: the usual range (middle half of readings) since 2005.
Loading chart…
The workings
The question
Data
Every chart has a table view, a CSV download and a link to its published JSON. Bundles are listed in data status.