News Articles for Australian Bureau of Statistics

The annual inflation rate has fallen to 6.9 per cent after the release of consumer price index data for October, after hitting 7.3 per cent the month before.

Senior journalist Matt Mckenzie talks about his work covering FIRM Construction's slide into administration, detailing what it means for subcontractors and the state government.

Retail sales were flat in WA in October, indicating consumers may have tightened their wallets in response to rising interest rates.

Black Friday sales may be feeding into slightly elevated consumer confidence scores as savvy spenders pounce on discounted items.

Grain farmers "nailed the jackpot" in a financial year where transport, ICT and the arts also delivered double-digit growth; and the state's economy increased by 3.1 per cent.

Senior editor Mark Beyer talks about his recent conversation with Sharon Warburton, and what her success as a company director means for women in search of board positions.

Rising interest rates and economic pressure have failed to dent WA's jobless rate, steady at 3.5 per cent, while national data hit a fresh record.

Wages are tracking upwards, growing by 3.1 per cent in the year to September, but still failing to keep up with the rising cost of living.

The cash rate has been hiked for the seventh consecutive month, up 25 basis points to be 2.85 per cent, as the Reserve Bank predicts inflation will hit 8 per cent this year.

A one-off subsidy on power bills has helped Perth prices drop 0.5 per cent in the September quarter, while national inflation hit 1.8 per cent for the quarter.

The number of Western Australians in employment fell in September, while the national jobless rate held steady at 3.5 per cent.

WA exports to Japan have had their strongest 12 months on record, while the state's imports also hit a new high.

Western Australia's jobless rate has fallen to 3.1 per cent in August, the second lowest among states and territories.

Growth of the state's economy slowed dramatically to just 0.1 per cent in the June quarter, compared to 0.9 per cent nationally.

Shopping centre owners are increasingly exploring ways to incorporate residential components into retail districts.

The RBA cash rate looks set to move past 3 per cent in months ahead; while the average WA home loan inked in April will now cost $610 more per month after five consecutive rate hikes.

While shoppers face inflationary pressures and a rising cost of living, the cost of doing business is also up.

A walk along Barrack Street provides a good insight on how Perth's small businesses are faring.

Building approvals have fallen dramatically in WA, with the number of new dwellings sanctioned down 37 per cent in July.

Retail spending was up 10.5 per cent in Western Australia in July compared to the same month in 2021, but most states substantially outperformed the west.

Workers are likely securing higher pay by changing jobs, new data from SEEK reveals, but driving up real wages remains a problem.

Australia's unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest in almost five decades with more positions open than jobseekers to fill them.

Wages increased 2.7 per cent in WA in the year to June, far below the rate of inflation.

Costs for Australian businesses rose 5.6 per cent in the 12 months to June 30, their biggest increase since December 2008.

Premier Mark McGowan says international factors are driving inflation, after Perth prices rose 7.4 per cent in the year to June, Australia's highest rate.

A growing number of companies are tapping into a pool of workers keen to learn and contribute.

The state government has stepped in to bridge the gap between skilled migrants and businesses, as record unemployment and chronic labour shortages force companies to look abroad for talent.

Two speeches in two days will give the Reserve Bank of Australia an opportunity to demonstrate how hawkish it is feeling as rate hikes loom.

About 9,100 fewer Western Australians were in work in June as the state's jobless rate defied an improvement nationally.

The national unemployment rate is set to fall further to 3.8 per cent when new labour force figures are released on Thursday.

New home builds in Western Australia have plunged 32.2 per cent in the latest quarterly data, the most significant drop in almost four decades, as rising costs slow the construction boom.

While the inflation challenge is expected to get worse before it gets better, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government is awake to the pressure on pensioners.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says payroll jobs rose 0.1 per cent in the month to June 11, with the trade surplus coming in at $15.9 billion in May.

Ahead of the release of payroll figures and the latest data on Australia's trade surplus, job advertisements are showing potential signs of decline.

WA building companies are learning from the collapse of competitors over the past 12 months.

The state government is trialling a 12-month pilot that will require suppliers to provide their gender equality credentials as part of the procurement process.

Job vacancies grew by 13.8 per cent in the three months to May and stand at more than double the number recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic set in.

WA has been among the most significant beneficiaries of what is being dubbed the “pandemic baby boom”, recording the second strongest population growth in the country.

Western Australia's jobless rate relaxed marginally to 3.1 per cent in May, though national unemployment remains at nearly a 50-year low.

Industry says Australian businesses are faced with workforce shortages supply chain disruptions and impacts of rising inflation.