Annual Macroeconomic Snapshot • 1980s
The Australian Economy in 1981
In 1981, Australia’s Estimated Resident Population stood at 15,054,117, real GDP growth averaged 4.1%, annual CPI inflation averaged 9.6% and the unemployment rate averaged 5.8%.
- • The RBA overnight/target cash rate ended 1981 at 15.62%, while 10-year Australian Government bond yields averaged 13.96%.
- • The Australian Dollar averaged US$1.1491 against the US Dollar during 1981.
1981 Economic Indicators at a Glance
% p.a.
Rank #10 of 104 yrs
Inflation (CPI) in 1981
9.6% Long-run avg: 4.0%
-0.6 pp %
Rank #29 of 77 yrs
Unemployment Rate in 1981
5.8% Long-run avg: 4.8%
-0.3 pp % p.a.
Rank #30 of 77 yrs
Real GDP Growth in 1981
4.1% Long-run avg: 3.4%
+1.2 pp Persons
Rank #46 of 126 yrs
Population in 1981
15.05M Long-run avg: 12,689,752
+246,747 % p.a.
Rank #50 of 125 yrs
Population Growth in 1981
1.67% Long-run avg: 1.61%
+0.27 pp % p.a.
Rank #2 of 78 yrs
10-Year Bond Yield in 1981
13.96% Long-run avg: 6.63%
+2.31 pp % p.a.
Rank #3 of 51 yrs
RBA Cash Rate in 1981
15.62% Long-run avg: 6.48%
+4.74 pp US$ per A$1
Rank #6 of 67 yrs
AUD/USD Exchange Rate in 1981
US$1.1491 Long-run avg: US$0.8921
+0.0105 % of disposable income
Rank #13 of 68 yrs
Household Saving Ratio in 1981
14.5% Long-run avg: 9.0%
-0.7 pp % of GDP
Rank #62 of 68 yrs
Trade Balance (% GDP) in 1981
-2.6% Long-run avg: -0.5%
-1.9 pp '000 dwellings / month
Rank #35 of 62 yrs
Dwelling Approvals in 1981
145.4k Long-run avg: 152.7
+2.7 % p.a.
Wage Growth (WPI) in 1981
N/A Series commenced later
1981 in Context: Preceding & Following Years (1976–1986)
10-year window around 1981 showing how key indicators evolved before and after