NSW continues to be Australia's strongest performing economy and Western Australia the weakest, the latest quarterly scorecard in the CommSec State of States report shows.
The biggest mover among the states since CommSec's last nationwide ranking in July is South Australia, which has leapt from sixth to fourth place.
Tasmania and Queensland had tied in fourth place but are now ranked fifth and sixth, respectively and the Northern Territory has remained in seventh place.
1. NSW
NSW leads on most of CommSec's eight key economic indicators. It has topped economic growth, retail trade, dwelling starts, business investment and unemployment with a jobless rate of 4.6 per cent; the state's lowest in nine years. It is also near the top on three other indicators: construction work, population growth, housing finance.
2. VICTORIA
Victoria is not far behind NSW and leads the pack on population growth and construction work completions. Victoria's population is 2.4 per cent higher than a year ago.
3. ACT
The ACT remains in third spot and continues to lead the other states when it comes to housing finance. However, softening in the jobs market is weighing on its economy.
4. SOUTH AUSTRALIA
SA is just ahead of Tasmania and Queensland thanks to strength in dwelling starts, business investment and employment. SA's jobless rate of 3.5 per cent stands at a five-year low.
5. TASMANIA
Tasmania has had improvements in employment and population growth which have led to stronger retail and home building activity.
The island state is now ranked second in unemployment, up from third place last quarter with a jobless rate of 5.9 per cent that is four per cent below the 10-year average.
6. QUEENSLAND
Queensland is in sixth position but there is little to separate it from South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory. It benefits include better job growth and strong export growth - growing at a 39 per cent annual rate.
7. NORTHERN TERRITORY
The NT has the strongest employment growth but has slipped from first to fourth on unemployment. As for forward-looking indicators, including population growth, housing finance and home starts, the Territory lags other economies.
8. WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WA has the weakest economy due to the wind-down of the mining construction boom but the job market continues to improve, with employment growth in the west the strongest in four and a half years.
