Alan Oster Quotes (17 Quotes)

The pace of economic activity is continuing to moderate. The Reserve Bank is very much on hold, watching both the inflation outlook and domestic demand over the remainder of 2005 and well into next year.

Business appears increasingly concerned that further weakness is in prospect. The Reserve Bank is very much on hold, weighing the higher inflation reality against the prospect of further slowing in domestic demand and a mild deterioration in the labor market.

For 2001, we expect Japanese growth of marginally less than 1 percent.

Confidence has been getting weaker for some months and trading conditions have weakened a bit in the latest survey. They could weaken more in the short term, but when you look at the medium term, companies are still quite optimistic.

There was continuing strength in mining, equipment manufacturing, nonresidential construction and utilities, ... Against that, residential construction, parts of agriculture and both wholesale and retail report poor and falling business conditions.

While the RBA might engage in occasional bouts of jawboning, we see little prospect of the RBA moving in either direction for some considerable period. That, indeed, was the main message out of yesterday's monetary policy statement.

Overall, the message you come back with is, business conditions, activity, was pretty good, although there's still doubts about whether this is going to continue for a long time.

The deterioration in agribusiness contrasts starkly with the ongoing strength in the non-farm business sector as a whole,

On the other hand, export volumes benefit from increased capacity and a lower Australian dollar partly offset by some moderation, but sustained trading partner growth during 2006-2007.

The Reserve Bank will continue to monitor higher short-term inflation risks from oil against slowing economic activity. While the bank might engage in occasional bouts of jawboning, we see little prospect of rates moving in either direction for some considerable period.

The near-term inflation outlook will cause the Reserve Bank some short term concern,

The story is one of continuing boom conditions in mining and very strong nonresidential construction activity, ... The Reserve Bank is still very much on hold, watching both the inflation outlook and domestic demand.

Business concerns about the potential for a sharp fall in future activity have continued to ease.

Despite improvements in confidence and still reasonable sales, the results suggest that business is still reluctant to increase hiring.

In summary, the survey points to a significant pick-up in economic growth in the first quarter of 2006.

Against that, cost pressures and more specifically oil prices remain a concern, as does the availability of suitable labor.

On transport, it is one of the few sectors that has continued to deteriorate through the quarter, no doubt reflecting the impact of higher oil prices on costs and profitability.