Annual Macroeconomic Snapshot • 2010s
The Australian Economy in 2018
In 2018, Australia’s Estimated Resident Population stood at 25,146,140, real GDP growth averaged 2.8%, annual CPI inflation averaged 1.9% and the unemployment rate averaged 5.3%.
- • The RBA overnight/target cash rate ended 2018 at 1.50%, while 10-year Australian Government bond yields averaged 2.68%.
- • The Australian Dollar averaged US$0.7481 against the US Dollar during 2018.
2018 Economic Indicators at a Glance
% p.a.
Rank #73 of 104 yrs
Inflation (CPI) in 2018
1.9% Long-run avg: 4.0%
0.0 pp %
Rank #36 of 77 yrs
Unemployment Rate in 2018
5.3% Long-run avg: 4.8%
-0.3 pp % p.a.
Rank #43 of 77 yrs
Real GDP Growth in 2018
2.8% Long-run avg: 3.4%
+0.4 pp Persons
Rank #9 of 126 yrs
Population in 2018
25.15M Long-run avg: 12,689,752
+387,122 % p.a.
Rank #60 of 125 yrs
Population Growth in 2018
1.56% Long-run avg: 1.61%
+0.03 pp % p.a.
Rank #73 of 78 yrs
10-Year Bond Yield in 2018
2.68% Long-run avg: 6.63%
+0.04 pp % p.a.
Rank #46 of 51 yrs
RBA Cash Rate in 2018
1.50% Long-run avg: 6.48%
0.00 pp US$ per A$1
Rank #44 of 67 yrs
AUD/USD Exchange Rate in 2018
US$0.7481 Long-run avg: US$0.8921
-0.0185 % of disposable income
Rank #53 of 68 yrs
Household Saving Ratio in 2018
4.7% Long-run avg: 9.0%
+0.1 pp % of GDP
Rank #10 of 68 yrs
Trade Balance (% GDP) in 2018
0.8% Long-run avg: -0.5%
+0.5 pp '000 dwellings / month
Rank #5 of 62 yrs
Dwelling Approvals in 2018
209.7k Long-run avg: 152.7
-13.0 % p.a.
Rank #24 of 29 yrs
Wage Growth (WPI) in 2018
2.2% Long-run avg: 3.1%
+0.2 pp 2018 in Context: Preceding & Following Years (2013–2023)
10-year window around 2018 showing how key indicators evolved before and after