Annual Macroeconomic Snapshot • 1980s
The Australian Economy in 1985
In 1985, Australia’s Estimated Resident Population stood at 15,900,566, real GDP growth averaged 5.0%, annual CPI inflation averaged 6.7% and the unemployment rate averaged 8.3%.
- • The RBA overnight/target cash rate ended 1985 at 19.39%, while 10-year Australian Government bond yields averaged 13.95%.
- • The Australian Dollar averaged US$0.6984 against the US Dollar during 1985.
1985 Economic Indicators at a Glance
% p.a.
Rank #23 of 104 yrs
Inflation (CPI) in 1985
6.7% Long-run avg: 4.0%
+2.7 pp %
Rank #10 of 77 yrs
Unemployment Rate in 1985
8.3% Long-run avg: 4.8%
-0.7 pp % p.a.
Rank #16 of 77 yrs
Real GDP Growth in 1985
5.0% Long-run avg: 3.4%
-1.7 pp Persons
Rank #42 of 126 yrs
Population in 1985
15.90M Long-run avg: 12,689,752
+223,284 % p.a.
Rank #75 of 125 yrs
Population Growth in 1985
1.42% Long-run avg: 1.61%
+0.17 pp % p.a.
Rank #3 of 78 yrs
10-Year Bond Yield in 1985
13.95% Long-run avg: 6.63%
+0.42 pp % p.a.
Rank #1 of 51 yrs
RBA Cash Rate in 1985
19.39% Long-run avg: 6.48%
+7.38 pp US$ per A$1
Rank #53 of 67 yrs
AUD/USD Exchange Rate in 1985
US$0.6984 Long-run avg: US$0.8921
-0.1792 % of disposable income
Rank #29 of 68 yrs
Household Saving Ratio in 1985
12.5% Long-run avg: 9.0%
-1.9 pp % of GDP
Rank #58 of 68 yrs
Trade Balance (% GDP) in 1985
-2.4% Long-run avg: -0.5%
-0.3 pp '000 dwellings / month
Rank #38 of 62 yrs
Dwelling Approvals in 1985
142.5k Long-run avg: 152.7
-3.2 % p.a.
Wage Growth (WPI) in 1985
N/A Series commenced later
1985 in Context: Preceding & Following Years (1980–1990)
10-year window around 1985 showing how key indicators evolved before and after