Monthly Economic Indicators - May 2011 - City of Greater Geelong

May 2011
Economic Indicator Movement Status (Favorable/Unfavorable)
Monthly Unemployment Rate
Weekly Job Advertisements -
Monthly Online Job Advertisements
Monthly Domestic Building Activity
Monthly Non-Domestic Building Activity
Quarterly Median House Prices
Quarterly ABN Registrations
Key Points:
The unemployment rate for the Barwon Western District in April 2011 was 4.1%
(a decrease of 2.3 percentage points compared to the previous month).
During May 2011 an average of 158 regional job advertisements were in the Geelong Advertiser each week
(no change on the previous month).
During April 2011 there were 636 new regional job advertisements added to the Seek website (a decrease of
16.0% compared to the previous month)
A total of 249 domestic new building permits were issued in the City of Greater Geelong in March 2011 (an
increase of 28.4% on the previous month).
A total of 55 non-domestic building permits were issued in the City of Greater Geelong in March 2011 (an increase
of 52.3% on the previous month).
The median house price in the City of Greater Geelong decreased to $385,000 in the March 2011 quarter
(a decrease of 1.3% on the previous quarter).
A total of 461 new ABNs were registered in the City of Greater Geelong during the December 2010 quarter
(a decrease of 56.2% on the previous quarter).
Consumer Confidence:
The Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment fell 1.3% in May from 105.3 in April to 103.9 in May . (More
detail available on the last page).
(An Index over 100 indicates that optimists outweigh pessimists)
Business Confidence:
Business confidence eased a little in April to +7. (More detail available on the last page).
(An Index above zero indicates that optimists outweigh pessimists)
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS MAY 2011 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

Monthly Unemployment Rate - Australian Bureau of Statistics
The unemployment rate for the Barwon Western District in April 2011 was 4.1%, a decrease of 2.3 percentage
points on the previous month, and an increase of 0.6pts compared to April 2010.
The April unemployment rate for the Barwon Western District was 0.7 percentage points lower than the
Victorian unemployment rate (4.8%) and 0.8pts lower than the Australian unemployment rate (4.9%).
A twelve month average of the unemployment rate to April 2011 for the Barwon Western District was 5.9%,
0.7pts higher than Victoria (5.2%) and 0.8pts higher than Australia (5.1%).
Barwon Western District Victoria Australia**
Unemployment
Rate
Change*
Percentage
Points
Unemployment
Rate
Change*
Percentage
Points
Unemployment
Rate
Change*
Percentage
Points
Latest Month
(April 2011) 4.1%
4.8%
4.9%
-2.3pts
+0.1pts
Previous Month
(March 2011) 6.4% 4.7% 5.0%
-0.1pts
Same Month
Last Year
(April 2010)
12 Month
Average
(to April 2011)
4.7% +0.6pts 5.6% +0.8pts 5.4% +0.5pts
5.9% 5.2% 5.1%
5 Year Trend
Line Analysis
(Apr 06 – Apr 11)
-0.6pts
-0.9pts
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
* Change in percentage points is based on differences between the latest month and earlier figures as specified.
** Data for Australia is sometimes revised from previously published data.
Monthly Unemployment Rate April 2006 – April 2011
Percentage (%)
10.0
9.0
Barw on Western District
Victoria
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A
2006 2007
2008 2009
2010
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS MAY 2011 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

May-06
Jul-06
Sep-06
Nov-06
Jan-07
Mar-07
May-07
Jul-07
Sep-07
Nov-07
Jan-08
Mar-08
May-08
Jul-08
Sep-08
Nov-08
Jan-09
Mar-09
May-09
Jul-09
Sep-09
Nov-09
Jan-10
Mar-10
May-10
Jul-10
Sep-10
Nov-10
Jan-11
Mar-11
May-11
Job Advertisements – Barwon Region
On average, 158 regional job vacancies were advertised each week in the Geelong Advertiser during May
2011. This represents no change on the average for April 2011 and an increase of 3.9% on the figure for May
2010.
Quarterly updates are available for the online job advertisements, graph has been updated with last quarter.
Geelong Advertiser
Seek Limited
Average Weekly
Job Ads
Percentage
Change*
New Monthly Job
Ads**
Latest Month (May 2011) 158
No update
-
Previous Month (April 2011) 158 636
Percentage
Change*
-
Same Month Last Year (May 2010) 152 +3.9% 486 -
YEARLY AVERAGES
12 Month Average (2010) 176
577
+15.0%
12 Month Average (2009) 153 432
+33.6%
12 Month Average (2008) 217 -18.9% 589 -2.0%
Source: Geelong Advertiser ‘Career One’ Saturday employment section & Seek Limited www.seek.com.au.
* Percentage change is based on differences between the latest month and earlier figures as specified.
** Relates to monthly job ad volume for the area ‘Geelong and Great Ocean Road’ as specified by the employer.
Job Advertisements, Barwon Region, May 2006 – May 2011
Number Ave. Weekly Job Ads (Geelong Advertiser) New Monthly Job Ads (seek.com.au)
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Source: Geelong Advertiser ‘Career One’ Saturday employment section & Seek Limited www.seek.com.au.
Geelong Advertiser data includes ads for all paid full-time, part-time and casual positions in the Barwon Region. The spike in job ads in
June 2006 was due to recruitment for a new call centre. The spike in online job ads between June 2010 and July 2010 is due to Seek’s
expansion of the geographic classification of job ads from ‘Geelong’ to ‘Geelong and Great Ocean Road’.
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS MAY 2011 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

Number of Permits
Mar-08
May-08
Jul-08
Sep-08
Nov-08
Jan-09
Mar-09
May-09
Jul-09
Sep-09
Nov-09
Jan-10
Mar-10
May-10
Jul-10
Sep-10
Nov-10
Jan-11
Mar-11
Value of Permits ($m)
Domestic Building Activity – City of Greater Geelong
Number and Value of Domestic New Building Permits
A total of 249 domestic new building permits were issued in the City of Greater Geelong in March 2011, an
increase of 28.4% on the previous month and a decrease of 7.4% compared to March 2010.
The value of domestic new building permits in March 2011 was $41.0m, an increase of 6.2% on the previous
month and a decrease of 17.5% on the value of permits in March 2010.
Number of
Permits
Percentage
Change*
Value of
Permits
Percentage
Change*
MONTHLY TOTALS
Latest Month (March 2011) 249
$41.0m
+28.4%
Previous Month (February 2011) 194 $38.6m
+6.2%
Same Month Last Year (Mar 2010) 269 -7.4% $49.7m -17.5%
ANNUAL TOTALS
2010 2,682
$486.5m
+16.4%
2009 2,305 $364.2m
+33.6%
2008 2,317 +15.8% $329.3m +47.7%
Source: Building Commission
* Percentage change is based on differences between the latest month and earlier figures as specified.
Number and Value of Domestic Permits - New Buildings
300
No. of Permits
Value of Permits ($m)
60
250
50
200
40
150
30
100
20
50
10
0
0
Source: Building Commission
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS MAY 2011 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

Non-Domestic Building Activity – City of Greater Geelong
Number and Value of Non-Domestic Building Permits
A total of 55 non-domestic building permits were issued in the City of Greater Geelong in March 2011, an
increase of 52.3% on the previous month and an increase of 19.6% compared to March 2010.
The value of non-domestic building permits was $25.5m in March 2011, a decrease of 57.6% on the previous
month and a decrease of 9.9% on the figure for March 2010.
Number of
Permits
Percentage
Change*
Value of
Permits
Percentage
Change*
MONTHLY TOTALS
Latest Month (March 2011) 55
$25.5m
+52.3%
Previous Month (February 2011) 36 $60.2m
-57.6%
Same Month Last Year (Mar 2010) 46 +19.6% $28.3m -9.9%
ANNUAL TOTALS
2010 588
$288.8m
-15.4%
2009 695 $300.7m
-4.0%
2008 735 -20.0% $350.5m -17.6%
Source: Building Commission
* Percentage change is based on differences between the latest month and earlier figures as specified.
Source: Building Commission
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS MAY 2011 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

Mar-06
Jun-06
Sep-06
Dec-06
Mar-07
Jun-07
Sep-07
Dec-07
Mar-08
Jun-08
Sep-08
Dec-08
Mar-09
Jun-09
Sep-09
Dec-09
Mar-10
Jun-10
Sep-10
Dec-10
Mar-10
Median House Prices – City of Greater Geelong
The median house price in the City of Greater Geelong decreased to $385,000 in the March 2011 quarter, a
decrease of 1.3% on the previous quarter and an increase of 8.8% on the March 2010 quarter.
Median House Price
Percentage Change*
QUARTERLY FIGURES
Latest Quarter (March 2011)
Previous Quarter (Dec 2010)
$385,000p
$390,000r
-1.3%
Same Quarter Last Year (March 2010) $354,000r +8.8%
ANNUAL FIGURES
2010p $372,250
2009 $328,563
+13.3%
2008 $319,000 +16.7%
Source: Real Estate Institute of Victoria
* Percentage change is based on differences between the latest month and earlier figures as specified.
p - preliminary
r – revised
Quarterly Median House Prices
$450,000
$400,000
$350,000
$300,000
$250,000
$200,000
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$-
Quarter
Source: Real Estate Institute of Victoria
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS MAY 2011 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

New ABN Registrations – City of Greater Geelong
A total of 461 new ABNs were registered in the City of Greater Geelong during the December 2010 quarter, a
decrease of 56.2% on the previous quarter. The only increases were experienced in the following industries:
Mining: Public Administration and Safety.
A total of 3,001 new ABNs were registered in the year to the December 2010 quarter, a decrease of 3.9%
compared to the year to the September 2010 quarter.
Quarterly
Year to…
Industry
Latest
(Dec 2010)
Previous
(Sep 2010)
Trend
Dec
2010
Sep
2010 Trend
Accommodation & Food Services 10 32 ↓ 78 70 ↑
Administrative & Support Services 27 54 ↓ 177 192 ↓
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 6 10 ↓ 30 32 ↓
Arts & Recreation Services 10 23 ↓ 65 66 ↓
Construction 91 168 ↓ 521 536 ↓
Education & Training 6 17 ↓ 49 57 ↓
Electricity, Gas, Water & Waste Services 0 2 ↓ 3 6 ↓
Financial & Insurance Services 2 8 ↓ 16 19 ↓
Health Care & Social Assistance 16 45 ↓ 118 111 ↑
Information Media & Telecommunications 2 4 ↓ 10 18 ↓
Manufacturing 7 14 ↓ 42 56 ↓
Mining 1 0 ↑ 1 2 ↓
Personal & Other Services 190 445 ↓ 1270 1306 ↓
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 36 101 ↓ 272 267 ↑
Public Administration & Safety 4 2 ↑ 10 6 ↑
Rental, Hiring & Real Estate Services 10 22 ↓ 69 77 ↓
Retail Trade 19 59 ↓ 140 136 ↓
Transport, Postal & Warehousing 16 37 ↓ 99 128 ↓
Wholesale Trade 8 9 ↓ 31 36 ↓
Totals 461 1052 -56.2 3001 3121 -3.9
Source: Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development, Small Business Victoria.
* ABN registrations are defined as an active and registered ABN (not cancelled or refused) and excludes trusts and super funds.
This data is not intended to be an exact count of the number of businesses in the municipality but an indication of the type of industries in
the area and the rates of growth for each.
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS MAY 2011 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

Consumer Sentiment Index – May 2011
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment fell 1.3% in May from 105.3
in April to 103.9 in May.
(An Index over 100 indicates that optimists outweigh pessimists)
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said “the survey was conducted after the release of the
government's 2010-11 budget and the Reserve Bank of Australia's 25 basis point rate hike at
the start of the month.
The survey found 27 per cent of consumers thought the budget would adversely affect their
finances, with just 11 per cent saying there would be some improvement,” Mr Evans said.
Source: Westpac Banking Corporation – Westpac Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment
Index.
Business Confidence – April 2011
Business confidence eased in April to +7 points, a drop of 2 points compared to March 2011
(+9).
(An Index above zero indicates that optimists outweigh pessimists)
Confidence fell significantly in manufacturing and mining (consistent with declines in
conditions), but strengthened in transport & utilities and construction. Confidence was
strongest in finance/business/property (+19) and transport & utilities (+16), while
manufacturing was the only sector to report negative confidence levels (-5).
Source: National Australia Bank Monthly Survey and Economic Outlook.
KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS MAY 2011 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

The information presented in this publication is given in good faith
and has been derived from sources believed to be reliable and
accurate. However, neither the City of Greater Geelong nor any
persons involved in the preparation of this publication accept any
form of liability whatsoever for its contents, including opinions,
advice, information or any consequences arising from its use.
WWW.GEELONGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
Prepared By:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - CITY OF GREATER GEELONG
2ND FLOOR, 131 MYERS STREET PO BOX 104 GEELONG 3220
AUSTRALIA
TELEPHONE +61 3 5272 4888 FACSIMILE +61 3 5272 4855
EMAIL: ecoinfo@geelongcity.vic.gov.au