DECEMBER KEY POINTS ACTUAL EXPENDITURE (VOLUME TERMS) • The trend volume estimate for total new capital expenditure fell 3.1% in the December quarter 2016 and the seasonally adjusted estimate fell 2.1%. • The trend volume estimate for buildings and structures fell 4.7% in the December quarter 2016 and the seasonally adjusted estimate fell 4.1%. • The trend volume estimate for equipment, plant and machinery fell 0.4% in the December quarter 2016 while the seasonally adjusted estimate rose 0.4%. EXPECTED EXPENDITURE (CURRENT PRICE TERMS) • This issue includes the fifth estimate (Estimate 5) for 2016-17 and the first ... (full story)

Business investment in Australian firms slumped more than expected in the December quarter, pushing the Aussie dollar sharply lower. Private capital expenditure – a leading indicator of economic activity – fell 2.1% in the three months to December, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Thursday. Analysts in a median estimate forecast a 0.4% slump. The December slump marked the fourth consecutive quarter of declining capex for Australian businesses. Capital expenditure is down in eight of the past nine quarters overall. However, there was a silver lining: the decrease in October-December was the smallest ... (full story)