Essential Report
Australian economy according to indicators
Q. Overall, how would you describe the current state of the Australian economy? and Which of the following indicators do you think is the most important when thinking about whether the Australian economy is in a good or poor state?
NET: Good | NET: Poor | NET (+/-) | |
The size of the national surplus | 51% | 21% | +30 |
The consumer price index | 45% | 24% | +21 |
The gross domestic product per person | 44% | 31% | +13 |
The value of the Australian dollar to international currencies | 34% | 27% | +7 |
The unemployment rate | 29% | 29% | 0 |
The interest rate set by Reserve Bank of Australia | 32% | 40% | -8 |
The number of new shops, restaurants and cafes opening | 41% | 54% | -13 |
The amount of homeless people on the streets | 26% | 41% | -15 |
The cost of household bills | 22% | 39% | -17 |
- Half (51%) of those who think the national surplus is the best indicator for economic performance believe the economy is in a good place.
- Those looking at household bills as an indicator for economic strength are the most pessimistic, with just 22% thinking the economy is in a good state, and 39% thinking it is in a poor state.
- The amount of homeless people on the streets is a similarly negative economy indicator, with two-fifths of participants (41%) who consider this the most important indicator of the economy, believing the economy is in a poor state (compared to just 26% who think it’s in a good place).

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In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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