Invest
CEOs pessimistic about the Australian economy
Australian chief executives were pessimistic about business conditions, even before this summer’s devastating bushfire season, suggests an industry survey.
CEOs pessimistic about the Australian economy
Australian chief executives were pessimistic about business conditions, even before this summer’s devastating bushfire season, suggests an industry survey.
According to results from the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), fewer CEOs expect an improvement in their own turnover, profit margins and productivity in 2020 than for any year since 2015.
Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said: “While Ai Group’s latest survey reaffirms an immediate outlook for the economy that is flat at best, we can secure our future economic prosperity with timely and multifaceted action to address substantial headwinds.
“It’s a challenge for governments, for businesses and for the broader community, but it’s one we should rise to with confidence that we will emerge stronger.”
The industry is calling for measures to stimulate the economy and lift productivity as business leaders struggle with global uncertainty as well as local policies.
“Another layer of concern arises from the fragile state of domestic demand in Australia, with both household and business spending indicative of the slow growth of domestic incomes (outside of the mining sector) and the pervasive mood of caution in both the business and household sectors,” Mr Willox said.
The results also show a smaller number of businesses are planning to boost spending on capital investment as well as research and development compared with previous years.
Further, the Australian fires are only weakening an already sombre business outlook.
“Australia’s extraordinary bushfires have further weakened the outlook for 2020. Considerable resources and effort will now need to be directed to recovering lost ground,” Mr Willox said.
Business leaders’ low expectations match the RBA’s analysis which cautions Australia’s real GDP growth to remain well below 3 per cent until the end of 2020 (and rising to just 3.1 per cent in 2021), with no discernible improvement in consumer and wage inflation from their current weak (below-target) rates of around 1.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively.
Australian growth forecasts from international agencies and private-sector economists are generally even less optimistic.
Read more on Australian economy here.
About the author
About the author
Spending
What did Aussies spend their super on?
Aussies who took advantage of the controversial early access to super scheme spent the majority of their money on mortgages, rent and household bills, with just one in eight saving their super for a r...Read more
Spending
Consumer spending set to boost economic recovery
Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 downturn looks to be buoyed by a wave of consumer spending, as Aussies increase their spending habits post-lockdown restrictions, new studies have revealed. ...Read more
Spending
Trans-Tasman border open for the first time in nearly 400 days
Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand has restarted for the first time in over a year, with the Prime Minister pointing to a further expansion of the bubble. ...Read more
Spending
Google found to ‘partially’ mislead consumers
Google has “partially” misled consumers by collecting some data on Android and Pixel phones even after the customer ticked “No” or “Do not collect”, a court has found. ...Read more
Spending
Energy prices fall – how you can cash in on the $900m saving
Households are being urged to check the price they are paying for electricity after it was revealed that prices across the eastern seaboard have fallen significantly in the back half of 2020, official...Read more
Spending
Aussies choose to shop local in pandemic recovery
Australians are increasingly turning their attention to homegrown businesses and brands as they look to help the country recover from its first economic downturn in nearly three decades, new research ...Read more
Spending
Awareness of BNPL surges as consumers look for alternative credit
Consumer awareness of buy now, pay later services, including AfterPay and Zip, continues to grow as Aussies look for alternative ways to make purchases. ...Read more
Spending
Tap for Uber, share bike in world-first trial
The NSW government has announced that thousands of Sydney commuters will be able to pay for various modes of transportation through their Opal cards, receiving discounts in the process. ...Read more
Is the market overheating; should ETFs take your fancy, and what’s happening to the low and middle income tax offset?
Listen now
Home values up 30% (or are they); NFTs taking the world by storm, and why Keating thinks Aussies will be ‘poor’ in retirement
Listen now
Raging floods, the tech stock bubble and the ongoing SG debate
Listen now
Meet the Manager with Trilogy’s Philip Ryan: RBA rates and property price growth
Listen now
Spending
What did Aussies spend their super on?
Aussies who took advantage of the controversial early access to super scheme spent the majority of their money on mortgages, rent and household bills, with just one in eight saving their super for a r...Read more
Spending
Consumer spending set to boost economic recovery
Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 downturn looks to be buoyed by a wave of consumer spending, as Aussies increase their spending habits post-lockdown restrictions, new studies have revealed. ...Read more
Spending
Trans-Tasman border open for the first time in nearly 400 days
Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand has restarted for the first time in over a year, with the Prime Minister pointing to a further expansion of the bubble. ...Read more
Spending
Google found to ‘partially’ mislead consumers
Google has “partially” misled consumers by collecting some data on Android and Pixel phones even after the customer ticked “No” or “Do not collect”, a court has found. ...Read more
Spending
Energy prices fall – how you can cash in on the $900m saving
Households are being urged to check the price they are paying for electricity after it was revealed that prices across the eastern seaboard have fallen significantly in the back half of 2020, official...Read more
Spending
Aussies choose to shop local in pandemic recovery
Australians are increasingly turning their attention to homegrown businesses and brands as they look to help the country recover from its first economic downturn in nearly three decades, new research ...Read more
Spending
Awareness of BNPL surges as consumers look for alternative credit
Consumer awareness of buy now, pay later services, including AfterPay and Zip, continues to grow as Aussies look for alternative ways to make purchases. ...Read more
Spending
Tap for Uber, share bike in world-first trial
The NSW government has announced that thousands of Sydney commuters will be able to pay for various modes of transportation through their Opal cards, receiving discounts in the process. ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
