The Australian economy raced back after the impact of last year’s Delta lockdowns, led by a strong rise in household consumption.
The December quarter national accounts released on Wednesday showed the economy grew by a hefty 3.4 per cent, rebounding from a 1.9 per cent contraction in the September quarter.
Annual growth rose to 4.2 per cent.
“Domestic demand drove the growth this quarter, with high levels of household spending, particularly in the states that emerged from COVID-19 lockdowns,” Australian Bureau of Statistics acting head of national accounts Sean Crick said.
Household spending in NSW, Victoria and the ACT rose 9.6 per cent, while the rest of Australia rose 1.6 per cent.
“How households react to rising inflation and interest rates will be critical to the role of the consumer as the economic engine,” EY chief economist Jo Masters said.
“A strong labour market and high job security should provide some confidence against some of the other factors on consumers’ minds.”
The rise in household consumption expenditure was partly offset by a 1.4 per cent fall in business investment, which was impacted by shortages of labour and construction materials.
Dwelling investment declined 2.2 per cent despite high levels of building approvals in recent quarters.
Net international trade detracted 0.2 percentage points from growth as exports of mining commodities and travel services fell, which was partly offset by increases in rural goods exports.
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe said the economy has subsequently proved resilient in the face of the Omicron variant, but warned the war in Ukraine is a new major source of uncertainty.
After leaving the cash rate unchanged at a record low 0.1 per cent at Tuesday’s monthly board meeting, Dr Lowe said there were uncertainties about how persistent the pick-up in inflation will be, given recent developments in global energy markets and ongoing supply-side problems.
Economists expect the RBA will lift the cash rate later this year, but the timing of the first move is finely balanced.
The RBA expects the unemployment rate to fall below four per cent by the end of this year, while underlying inflation is projected to move above the two-to-three per cent target band and stay elevated.
“The potent mix means that the RBA will eventually need to move rates higher to dampen inflation,” St George chief economist Besa Deda said.
“But at the same time, the RBA wants to hold rates low for as long as possible to support the recovery from the pandemic.”
She said the risks from the war in Ukraine are of higher inflation, and possibly weaker global growth, depending on how events unfold.
Cost of living pressures are already being felt across the country with record petrol prices biting into household budgets.
The latest National Australia Bank wellbeing survey shows one-in-five Australians have missed a bill or loan payment in the past three months, while 75 per cent are trying to save but are challenged by debt repayments, bills and everyday spending.
More than 40 per cent of adults reported a decline in their savings in the past three months.
© AAP 2022
