Bill Evans (Westpac), September 3, 2014 - CORPORATE / CONFERENCE : AVCAL alpha Conference, Central Pier, Shed 14, 161 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Credit: Lucas Wroe / Event Photos Australia

Positive outlook for economy.

The six month annual growth rate in the Westpac–Melbourne Institute Leading Index, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity relative to trend three to nine months into the future, rose from 0.06% in June to 0.55% in July, a solid rebound from last month’s slip below trend.

Despite this, the Leading Index growth rate has still slowed materially since the start of the year, from 1.31% in February to 0.55% in July, according to Westpac chief economist, Bill Evans.

“Over the last six months the index has only dipped below zero on the one occasion which was last month. That is sending a more positive signal around the growth outlook than we are expecting at Westpac with the remainder of 2018 and into 2019 to hold slightly below trend particularly, in light of an uncertain outlook for the consumer. Falling property prices amid a slowdown in jobs growth, fading jobs confidence and high household debt are likely to create headwinds for growth,” he said.

Westpac’s Bill Evans (Photo Credit: Lucas Wroe / Event Photos Australia)

Three components account for this, a turnaround in the Westpac-MI unemployment expectations index, reduced support from commodity price gains along with a narrowing yield spread that mainly reflects rising short term interest rates.  According to Evans, these drags have been partially offset by some lift in aggregate monthly hours worked and dwelling approvals although the momentum in both of these components remains patchy month to month. “While the remaining components have seen little change since February, US industrial production has continued to provide steady support.”

Earlier this month the Reserve Bank released its latest Statement on Monetary Policy which provided a forecast update. Of most interest was a downward revision to the bank’s inflation forecast for 2018 from 2.25% to 1.75%. If correct it would mark five consecutive calendar years when headline inflation has printed below the bottom of its 2–3% target band, Evans said.

“The Reserve Bank still expects inflation to lift to 2.25% by 2020 and anticipates that the next move in the cash rate will be up. An obvious headwind to the bank’s plan to move inflation back into the target zone is the impact that five years of underperformance in inflation will have on households and company expectations.”

Evans believes the reason the Reserve is reluctant to lower its target range is because of a possible dampening impact on inflationary expectations. “Westpac is sceptical that the bank will be successful in lifting inflation particularly under the weight of low inflationary expectations. Westpac has extended its forecasts to now expect the bank to remain on hold in 2020, which complements its existing forecast which has the bank on hold in 2018 and 2019,” Evans said.