Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Business confidence grows

New figures show business is growing in confidence to borrow and take on new staff, suggesting little reason for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates.

Those "animal spirits" in the business world often sought by Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens appear to be slowly returning.

In a further sign that the economy is successfully transitioning to broader-based growth, annual credit growth among businesses stands close to its highest level since the 2008-09 global financial crisis.

Other figures on Thursday showing job vacancies at their highest in three-and-a-half years also confirms the positive trends in business surveys and labour force numbers.

The central bank's monthly credit figures showed business credit expanded by 0.7 per cent in February, lifting the annual rate to 6.5 per cent and just shy of the 6.7 per cent peak seen only briefly late last year.

"Annual growth is gradually rising which could indicate a greater willingness to borrow and invest by corporates," Commonwealth Bank of Australia senior economist Michael Workman says.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Job vacancies also rose by 3.1 per cent in the three months to February - the sixth straight quarterly gain - to be 13.4 per cent over the year.

Commonwealth Securities chief economist Craig James said the improving health of the jobs market should support retail spending and housing activity.

"But it also means that there are even fewer reasons for the Reserve Bank to even be thinking about cutting interest rates," Mr James said.

The Reserve Bank holds its monthly board meeting next Tuesday.

However, business is less chirpy about the Turnbull government's promised wide-ranging tax reform package, fearing it will be nothing more than tinkering at the edges.

Consultants BDO's annual tax reform survey attracted more than 500 respondents, double the number of respondents seen in 2015.

BDO national tax director Lance Cunningham said this was a clear sign that the business community still sees tax reform as an urgent priority even if the government does not.

"(Many) are fearful the federal budget will present only piecemeal measures and a vague commitment to look closer at tax reform after the next election," Mr Cunningham said.

Although the government shelved changes to the GST on the premise it would do little to lift economic growth, over 80 per cent of respondents believe reforming the impost is essential to any tax package.

Almost two-thirds of those surveyed said GST exemptions should be abolished.

"Reform of GST to allow the removal of inefficient state taxes have been identified as much more pressing than company tax rate cuts," Mr Cunningham said.

Treasurer Scott Morrison will hand down the tax package with his first budget on May 3.


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world