THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AT ELECTION TIME 1996-2016
March 1996: John Howard's coalition wins power
Growth 3.1 pct
Inflation 5.1 pct
Jobless 8.3 pct
Cash Rate 7.5 pct
*Budget $11.1 bln deficit
*Debt $110 bln
October 1998: Howard holds government
Growth 3.9 pct
Inflation 0.7 pct
Jobless 7.6 pct
Cash Rate 5.0 pct
*Budget $3.9 bln surplus
*Debt $85 bln
November 2001: Howard holds government
Growth 1.4 pct
Inflation 2.5 pct
Jobless 7.2 pct
Cash rate 6.25 pct
*Budget $1.1 bln deficit
*Debt $63 bln
October 2004: Howard holds government
Growth 4.1 pct
Inflation 2.5 pct
Jobless 5.4 pct
Cash Rate 5.25 pct
*Budget $13.6 bln surplus
*Debt $55 bln
November 2007: Kevin Rudd's Labor wins power.
Growth 4.3 pct
Inflation 2.1 pct
Jobless 4.3 pct
Cash Rate 6.75 pct
*Budget $19.8 bln surplus
*Debt $55 bln
August 2010: Hung parliament, Julia Gillard's Labor secures minority government.
Growth 3.3 pct
Inflation 3.1 pct
Jobless 5.3 pct
Cash Rate 4.5 pct
*Budget $47.5 bln deficit
*Debt $191 bln
September 2013: Tony Abbott's coalition wins power.
Growth 2.6 pct
Inflation 2.4 pct
Jobless 5.8 pct
Cash rate 2.5 pct
*Budget $48.5 bln deficit
*Debt $319 bln
July 2 2016: Turnbull's coalition seeks re-election
Growth 3.0 pct
Inflation 1.3 pct
Jobless 5.7 pct
Cash rate 1.75 pct
*Budget $39.9 bln deficit
*Debt $427 bln
(ABS, RBA, *2016/17 budget)
