Main Economic Indicators: A Publications Guide (Research Note 13 1997-98)

Research Note 13 1997-98

Main Economic Indicators: A Publications Guide

Guy Woods
Statistics Group
17 November 1997

Introduction

When they are released they make the front page of the daily newspapers and receive top billing on the evening television news. This is the impact of an economic indicator, which highlights a particular aspect of the economy. The objective of this Research Note is to provide a guide to some of the main economic indicators and their sources of release advice.

Release advice

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes a Release Advice (ABS Cat No. 1105.0) every Tuesday and Friday. This report lists all ABS publications to be released in the coming week. Once a month the Release Advice also lists all of the main economic indicators for the coming month. Copies of this publication can be obtained from the ABS Subscription Services (see contacts list in table) or by visiting the ABS web site at http://www.statistics.gov.au. Most ABS publications also contain a timetable of release dates for future editions.

Each Monday the Australian Financial Review sets out a list of economic indicators to be released in the coming week on page two under the heading of the week's diary.

Once a month the ANZ Investment Bank publishes Markets Update which carries a supplement called Economic and Financial Calendar which lists economic indicators to be released in Australia and abroad. (contact (03) 9273 1619 for a copy).

Abbreviations used in table

*ACCI*	*Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry*
*ABS*	*Australian Bureau of Statistics*
*NAB*	*National Australia Bank*
*ANZ*	*Australia New Zealand Banking Group*
*M&B*	*Morgan & Banks*
*REIA*	*Real Estate Institute of Australia*
*W & MI*	*Westpac and Melbourne Institute*

*Title*	*Publisher*	*Freq*	*Contents*	*Month of Issue*	*Timetable*	*Contact*
Australian National Accounts (Cat No. 5206.0)	ABS	Q	Detailed breakdown of national accounts including Gross Domestic Product (GDP)	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	Last Wednesday of the second month following the reference period or first Wednesday of the third month	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Balance of Payments and International Investment Position (Cat No. 5302.0)	ABS	Q	Current Account, Capital Account, foreign investment and foreign debt	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	42 working days after the end of reference period	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
International Trade in Goods and Services (Cat No. 5368.0)	ABS	M	Monthly balance of trade figures	Every month	21 working days after the end of reference period	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
International Merchandise Trade (Cat No. 5422.0)	ABS	Q	Detailed trade figures by commodity and country	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	35 working days after the end of reference period	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Housing Finance for Owner Occupation (Cat No. 5609.0)	ABS	M	Figures by type of borrower, dwelling, lending institution and State	Every month	27 to 28 working days after end of reference period. Not on same day as other indicators.	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure (Cat No. 5625.0)	ABS	Q	Expenditure on buildings, construction, plant and equipment by industry	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	Last week of the second month after end of reference period	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Labour Force, Australia, Preliminary (Cat No. 6202.0)	ABS	M	Labour force status of persons 15 and over	Every month	Second Thursday of the month	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (Cat No. 6301.0)	ABS	Q	Average weekly ordinary time earning and average weekly total earnings	Feb, Mar, Aug, Nov	13 weeks after the end of reference period	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Consumer Price Index (Cat No. 6401.0)	ABS	Q	Movement in the retail price of goods and services for capital cities	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	Wednesday of the 4^th week after end of reference period	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Retail Trade (Cat No. 8501.0)	ABS	M	Retail turnover by industry sector and State	Every month	22 working days after the reference period except for June, Sept, Dec and Mar, which are after 30 days	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Building Approvals (Cat No. 8731.0)	ABS	M	Approvals by number and value for residential and commercial.	Every month	22 working days after end of the reference period	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Registration of New Motor Vehicles (Cat No. 9301.0)	ABS	M	Registration of new motor vehicles by State and class of vehicle	Every month	Last Friday of the month after end of reference period	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7848
Market Facts	REIA	M	Monthly review of major real estate property markets in Australia	Every month	Second half of the month	T: 1300 366 323 F: (03) 9615 7861
Home Loan Affordability	REIA & Citibank	Q	Index of home loan affordability by State and Territory	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	End of second week following the reference period	T: (02) 62824277
National Survey of Business Expectations	ACCI	Q	Survey of business expectations and impressions of business and economic conditions	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	Second month of period preceding reference period	T: (02) 6273 2311
Survey of Industrial Trends	ACCI/ Westpac	Q	Survey of manufacturers business expectations	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	End of first month of quarter	T: (02) 6273 2311
Small Business Index	Yellow Pages	Q	Survey of expectations and impressions of business and economic conditions	Feb, May, Aug, Nov	Last Tuesday in the first month of reference period	T: 1800 818 598
Quarterly Business Survey	NAB	Q	Survey of expectations and impressions of business and economic conditions	Jun, Sept, Dec, Mar	Five to ten days after the end of the reference period	T: (03) 9641 3762
ANZ Employment Advertisement Series	ANZ	M	Survey of job advertisements in major newspapers	Every month	First Monday of the month except 1^st or 2^nd of month. Always in the week before ABS labour force data	T: (03) 92734774
Morgan & Banks Job Index	M&B	Q	Survey of business executives and their employment intentions	Feb, May, Aug, Nov	End of middle month of the quarter	T: (02) 9256 0333
Indexes of Economic Activity	W & MI	M	Indexes which provide information on present and future levels of economic activity and inflation	Every month	Third Wednesday of month	T: (03) 9344 5530
Survey of Consumer Sentiment	W & MI	M	Survey of how consumers view their economic prospects and buying intentions	Every month	Second Wednesday of month	T: (03) 9344 5530

Research Note 13 1997-98

Main Economic Indicators: A Publications Guide

Guy Woods Statistics Group 17 November 1997

Guy Woods
Statistics Group
17 November 1997