Green economic shoots emerging: Hockey

Treasurer Joe Hockey says Australia shows signs of green economic shoots emerging, but economists still expect a subdued set of growth figures next week.

Treasurer Joe Hockey

Treasurer Joe Hockey. (AAP)

Treasurer Joe Hockey believes "green economic shoots" are appearing across the country.

Economists agree the non-mining sectors of the economy are starting to blossom to replace a resources investment boom withering on the vine.

But that is not going to help next week's economic growth numbers for the June quarter, which are expected to show a pretty weedy result.

One economist believes it could actually be a negative outcome.

Quizzed on the economic outlook for Tasmania during parliamentary question time on Thursday, Mr Hockey noted data this week showed completed construction work on the island state was nine per cent higher than a year earlier.

"That's a pretty common story across Australia, we are starting to see green shoots," he said.

That was also evident in a number of different areas, with the latest capital expenditure figures increasing by a stronger than expected 1.1 per cent in the June quarter.

This was driven by expenditure for what's described as buildings and other structures, which increased two per cent.

However, the business spending category, crucial for next week's national accounts calculation - including equipment, plant and machinery - fell 0.9 per cent.

Even so, RBC Capital Markets head of strategy Su-Lin Ong says there is an encouraging trend in non-mining capital expenditure emerging.

"While the outlook remains modest, it is heading in the right direction," she said.

The latest estimate for business spending in 2014/15 is $145.2 billion, up 5.1 per cent from a previous forecast made three months ago, but 10.2 per cent down from this time last year.

Based on the Reserve Bank's recently updated economic forecasts, gross domestic product for the June quarter should rise 0.4 per cent.

But Macquarie Bank economist James McIntyre expects GDP will fall 0.1 per cent after Thursday's figures and following the export-driven 1.1 per cent surge in the previous three months.

A fall would reflect weak domestic demand environment, a correction of the boost from net exports, and some further inventory shedding in response to soft demand conditions, he said.


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