Thursday brought Australian Retail Sales and Private Capital Expenditure figures. The trend estimate rose 0.1% in April 2017. This follows a rise of 0.1% in March 2017 and a rise of 0.1% in February 2017. The seasonally adjusted estimate rose 1.0% in April 2017. This follows a fall of 0.2% in March 2017 and a relatively unchanged February 2017 (0.0%). In trend terms, Australian turnover rose 2.7% in April 2017 compared with April 2016. The following industries rose in trend terms in April 2017: Food retailing (0.2%), Other retailing (0.4%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.2%), and Department Stores (0.4%). Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.4%), and Household goods retailing (-0.1%) fell in trend terms in April 2017.
Separate report on Private Capital Expenditure showed that the trend volume estimate for total new capital expenditure fell by 0.6% in the March quarter 2017 while the seasonally adjusted estimate rose by 0.3%. The trend volume estimate for buildings and structures fell by 0.2% in the March quarter 2017 while the seasonally adjusted estimate rose by 0.7%.The trend volume estimate for equipment, plant and machinery fell by 1.0% in the March quarter 2017 while the seasonally adjusted estimate fell by 0.1%.
This week markets will be looking at:
Cash Rate/RBA Statement (Tuesday 6:30)
GDP (Wednesday 3:30)
Trade Balance (Thursday 3:30)