Capex data weaker than Treasury hoped

Last week's capital expenditure figures were weaker than Treasury had forecast, particularly on the non-mining investment side.

Recent business capital expenditure figures were on the low side of Treasury's expectations, but not enough to alter its broader economic budget forecasts, a Senate committee has been told.

The overall 4.4 per cent drop in the March quarter capital expenditure, in data released last week, was on the lower side of Treasury's forecasts, particularly in non-mining investment.

"It would have been nice to have them a little bit stronger," Treasury secretary John Fraser told an estimates hearing in Canberra on Monday.