2022 Market Report: Summary
Economic snapshot
|
2022
|
2021
|
2020
|
Economic Growthi
|
2.75%
|
4.2%
|
1.1%
|
Unemployment Rate
|
3.5%
|
4.0%
|
6.3%
|
Cash Rate Targetii
|
0.1% (Jan)
3.10% (Dec)
|
0.1%
|
0.1%
|
Wage Price Indexiii
|
3.4%
|
2.3%
|
1.4%
|
Populationiv
|
26.27 million
|
25.75 million
|
25.68 million
|
Consumer Price Indexv
|
7.8%
|
3.5%
|
0.9%
|
Throughout 2022 the Australian economy entered a period of increasing inflation and interest rates, creating difficult conditions for retail trade in consumer products. Unemployment fell below 4% early in the year and stayed there, reaching a low point of 3.4% and ending the year at 3.5%.i Wages increased at a faster pace than usual, with the Wage Price Index moving above 3% for the first time in almost 10 years. However, higher wages and low unemployment were matched with higher interest rates, with the RBA cash rate moving from 0.1% to 3.1%, and consumer price index reaching a high point of 7.8%. Continue reading →