AustraliaEconomy

The ABS reported that 1 million workers, or 7.2%, changed employers in the year to February 2026.

Import prices increased by 5.7% in the June quarter, driven primarily by global supply disruptions.

Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that total dwelling approvals rose 7.2% to 18,328 in June, according to seasonally adjusted data.

Annual CPI inflation in Australia slowed to 3.8% in the 12 months to June 2026, down from 4.0% in the year to May, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Australia and Singapore have signed an economic resilience protocol under their free trade agreement to protect essential supply chains.

The US administration has imposed a 12.5% import tariff on Australian products following a Section 301 trade investigation.

The Australian unemployment rate remained steady at 4.4% in June following a 76,000 person surge in total employment.

New Zealand’s annual consumers' price index increased 4.1% in the 12 months to June, breaking past the central bank target.

• The International Monetary Fund downgraded Australia's 2026 economic growth forecast from 2% to 1.9% as persistent inflation continues to cool consumer demand.
• Major Australian entities face compressing profit margins and heightened loan provisions, exemplified by recent banking updates showing quarterly profit contractions.
• Analysts project the longest stretch of sub-2% economic growth in three decades, forcing corporations to heavily manage costs amid stagnant real wages.

The IMF downgraded Australia's forecast economic growth for 2026 to 1.9% amid persistent inflationary pressures.