PolicySandbox.ai

Economy

The macroeconomic core of the digital twin — 95 indicators, of which the blocks below are the ones policy moves first. Every simulation solves for the deviation from these levels rather than forecasting them.

Demo simulation — not an official forecast. The baseline economy is dimensionally correct and in the right neighbourhood of published Australian aggregates, but it is not an official extract. Every relationship is calibrated rather than estimated by this project. Results are scenario estimates, not predictions.

Output and prices

The aggregate accounts, and the price level that determines what income is worth.

IndicatorLevelTrendConfidence
Nominal GDP$2.88tn+4.7%High
Real GDP (chain volume, annualised)$2.56tn+2%High
Real GDP growth2.00%flatHigh
Real GDP per capita$92,100+0.7%High
Labour productivity growth0.90%flatMedium
Output gap-0.20%flatLow
Headline CPI inflation2.90%-0.1ppHigh
Trimmed mean inflation2.80%-0.1ppHigh

Labour market

Employment, slack and wages — the channel through which the macroeconomy reaches most households.

IndicatorLevelTrendConfidence
Unemployment rate4.20%flatHigh
Underemployment rate6.20%flatHigh
Labour force participation rate66.90%-0.06ppHigh
Employed persons14.9m+1.3%High
Average hours worked per employed person32.6flatHigh
Wage Price Index growth3.40%-0.05ppHigh
Real wage growth0.50%flatHigh
National minimum wage$25+3.5%High
Job vacancies330.0k0%Medium

Monetary policy

The policy rate that anchors every other interest rate.

IndicatorLevelTrendConfidence
RBA cash rate target3.85%flatHigh

Credit

The price and availability of money, and the borrowing capacity that gates housing demand.

IndicatorLevelTrendConfidence
Average outstanding variable mortgage rate6.05%flatHigh
Average new owner-occupier lending rate6.15%flatHigh
Average business lending rate6.70%flatHigh
Average term deposit rate4.15%flatHigh
Housing credit outstanding$2.35tn+5%High
Median borrowing capacity, dual-income buyer$720,000+3.4%Medium
Total credit growth5.40%flatHigh

Business

Investment, revenue and firm distress.

IndicatorLevelTrendConfidence
Private business investment$372.0bn+4%High
Business confidence index4.0flatLow
Retail turnover$435.0bn+4.3%High
Business insolvencies13.60%Medium

Public finances

Receipts, payments, the balance and the debt stock they accumulate into.

IndicatorLevelTrendConfidence
Commonwealth receipts$738.0bn+4.8%High
Commonwealth payments$762.0bn+4.9%High
Underlying cash balance-$24.0bn-2ppHigh
Commonwealth net debt$566.0bn+5.5%High
Individual income tax receipts$335.0bn+5.2%High
Company tax receipts$138.0bn+3.4%High
GST receipts$96.0bn+4.4%High
Defence expenditure$58.0bn+6%High

Trade

Exports, imports and the external balance.

IndicatorLevelTrendConfidence
Exports of goods and services$702.0bn+3.2%High
Imports of goods and services$684.0bn+4%High
Current account balance-$18.0bnflatHigh

Property

Values, rents, vacancy and the stock–flow balance of housing.

IndicatorLevelTrendConfidence
Median dwelling value, national$852,000+4%Medium
Median advertised rent$660+4.2%Medium
Rental vacancy rate1.60%+0.05ppMedium
Occupied dwelling stock11.4k+1.5%High
Cumulative dwelling shortfall vs underlying demand175.0k+22ppLow
Home ownership rate66.00%-0.2ppHigh
Dwelling price to household income ratio8.100flatMedium
Investor share of new housing finance37.00%flatHigh