Cliff Notes: eagerly awaiting Chair Powell at Jackson Hole
Key insights from the week that was.
Following last week’s update on aggregate wage inflation, Westpac revised its profile for wages growth over 2023 and 2024. In essence, the update speaks to a broad-based moderation in the pace of wage inflation. This is certainly highlighted by the softer-than-expected outcome for the headline figure in June, up 0.8% (3.6%yr), but is also witnessed to by the detail. The moderation is evident across most components of the data, not only in the breakdowns by sector and by bargaining arrangement, but also if bonuses are included or only those who received a pay increase are considered. The next update for September quarter 2023 will capture an above-average increase in the minimum wage (5.9% in 2023 vs. 4.7% in 2022) in addition to the 15% pay raise for aged care workers. Still, factoring in that strength – a forecast 1.3% gain – is still not enough to offset the broader moderation at play, leading us to revise down our year-end forecast for wages growth from 4.1%yr to 3.8%yr.
The August edition of Westpac’s Housing Pulse provided an in-depth update on the current drivers and outlook for Australia’s housing market. The upturn has gradually gained traction over recent months, but with turnover rising slowly, the recovery remains characterised as ‘price-led’. The nature of the recovery to date highlights the importance of affordability constraints, a factor which we believe will play a key role in guiding house price outcomes over the next few years. This is most aptly highlighted by the sub-indexes in the Westpac-MI Consumer Sentiment survey. At 72.1, the ‘time to buy a dwelling’ index remains near extreme cyclical lows; at 151.2, the House Price Expectations Index is meanwhile at a new cycle high, in strongly optimistic territory. Westpac expects house prices to rise by 7% in 2023; then, as affordability acts as a drag on buyer sentiment and demand, house price growth is expected to slow to 4% in both 2024 and 2025.
Before moving offshore, a quick note on Australia’s goods exports. This sector has become an increasingly important driver of growth over the last three years, with its share of the national economy up from 19% in 2019 to 27% in 2022. However, this strength was inherently built upon a fragile base, effectively being the consequence of a surge in global commodity prices, up 52.8% since 2019. Meanwhile, goods export volumes have declined by 2.1% over the last three years, the weakest result on record dating back to 1960. This largely speaks to the emerging weakness in resource exports, namely the “Big 3” of metal ores, coal and other fuels which together account for nearly two-thirds of Australia’s goods export volumes. The “Big 3” have suffered from a sustained period of underinvestment in capacity and repeat instances of disruptions to production, an environment that is clearly unable to foster quality growth in real export volumes. While the near-to-medium term outlook should benefit from fewer disruptions and some semblance of an investment response, the longer-term outlook for resource exports appears more uncertain. The transition to net-zero necessitates a restructuring of energy production globally, weakening global appetite for Australia’s fossil fuel exports. However, it also requires rapid investment in infrastructure and the replacement of transport fleets globally. The transition is therefore a constraint for some producers, but a great opportunity for others.
Offshore, the August flash PMIs for Europe, UK, US and Japan were instructive, pointing to a further deterioration in manufacturing and emerging weakness in services.
In the US, the manufacturing PMI ticked down to 47.0 from 49.0 led by declines in output and new orders. Services also ticked down from 52.3 to 51.0, likely attributable to softening consumer spending. The employment sub-index for both showed an incremental increase in employment, the slowest through this cycle, with declining new orders and rising wage costs arguably prompting some firms to consider cutting staff. Input price inflation was positive again after a brief trip below 50. This was supported by larger wage bills and an increase in raw material prices. However, output prices are now under pressure as firms discount their goods and services given constrained consumer spending power.
In the UK, the services PMI fell into contraction for the first time since January, 48.7. Both new orders and output declined while jobs rose marginally. A moderation in input costs came from lower energy and material prices, but wages continue to worry many firms. Output prices eased for the fourth month in a row, though this is yet to show up in the CPI. Manufacturing meanwhile fell deeper into contraction to 42.5, the thirteenth sub-50 reading in a row. New order and production both decelerated, signalling a bleak outlook.
Europe's services PMI saw a sizeable decline to 48.3, a 30-month low, while manufacturing improved to a still deeply contractionary 43.7. Employment in manufacturing was weak while services employment softened but remained expansionary. Manufacturers' costs declined, likely thanks to easing energy prices, as strong wage growth supported services input costs. Manufacturer output prices fell, continuing along their trend, while services prices rose slowly.
Japan's manufacturing PMI was little changed at 49, and services held up at 54.3. Optimism in services is likely driven by strong tourism spending versus domestic demand. Employment continued to show promise, a constructive development for next year's spring wage negotiations which the BoJ will keenly assess. Input prices also increased in Japan, though the detail suggests passthrough to services is more probable than manufacturing.
While there was no new data of significance for China this week, market participants remained focused on possible outcomes there in coming months. A quiet data week allowed us to take a deep dive into the recent detail for trade, investment and consumption, with a view to assess both the strengths and weaknesses of China’s economy and consequently the most probable evolution of growth with/ without further support from authorities. In our view, clear, active support from authorities can sustain growth around the current 5% target for a few more years. However, inaction is likely to entrench current pessimism amongst consumers and small business, weakening growth prospects to the extent that authorities medium-term development ambitions are unlikely to come to pass. Which path China takes will be determined in the next few months.
Stay informed with Westpac IQ
Get the latest reports straight to your inbox.
Related articles
Browse topics
Disclaimer
©2025 Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 (including where acting under any of its Westpac, St George, Bank of Melbourne or BankSA brands, collectively, “Westpac”). References to the “Westpac Group” are to Westpac and its subsidiaries and includes the directors, employees and representatives of Westpac and its subsidiaries.
Things you should know
We respect your privacy: You can view our privacy statement at Westpac.com.au. Each time someone visits our site, data is captured so that we can accurately evaluate the quality of our content and make improvements for you. We may at times use technology to capture data about you to help us to better understand you and your needs, including potentially for the purposes of assessing your individual reading habits and interests to allow us to provide suggestions regarding other reading material which may be suitable for you.
This information, unless specifically indicated otherwise, is under copyright of the Westpac Group. None of the material, nor its contents, nor any copy of it, may be altered in any way, transmitted to, copied of distributed to any other party without the prior written permission of the Westpac Group.
Disclaimer
This information has been prepared by the Westpac and is intended for information purposes only. It is not intended to reflect any recommendation or financial advice and investment decisions should not be based on it. This information does not constitute an offer, a solicitation of an offer, or an inducement to subscribe for, purchase or sell any financial instrument or to enter into a legally binding contract. To the extent that this information contains any general advice, it has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and before acting on it you should consider the appropriateness of the advice. Certain types of transactions, including those involving futures, options and high yield securities give rise to substantial risk and are not suitable for all investors. We recommend that you seek your own independent legal or financial advice before proceeding with any investment decision. This information may contain material provided by third parties. While such material is published with the necessary permission none of Westpac or its related entities accepts any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any such material. Although we have made every effort to ensure this information is free from error, none of Westpac or its related entities warrants the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of this information, or otherwise endorses it in any way. Except where contrary to law, Westpac Group intend by this notice to exclude liability for this information. This information is subject to change without notice and none of Westpac or its related entities is under any obligation to update this information or correct any inaccuracy which may become apparent at a later date. This information may contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements. The words “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “predict”, “continue”, “assume”, “positioned”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “shall”, “risk” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance, nor are forecasts of future performance. Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure that the assumptions on which any forecasts are based are reasonable, the forecasts may be affected by incorrect assumptions or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. The ultimate outcomes may differ substantially from any forecasts.
Conflicts of Interest: In the normal course of offering banking products and services to its clients, the Westpac Group may act in several capacities (including issuer, market maker, underwriter, distributor, swap counterparty and calculation agent) simultaneously with respect to a financial instrument, giving rise to potential conflicts of interest which may impact the performance of a financial instrument. The Westpac Group may at any time transact or hold a position (including hedging and trading positions) for its own account or the account of a client in any financial instrument which may impact the performance of that financial instrument.
Author(s) disclaimer and declaration: The author(s) confirms that (a) no part of his/her compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to any views or (if applicable) recommendations expressed in this material; (b) this material accurately reflects his/her personal views about the financial products, companies or issuers (if applicable) and is based on sources reasonably believed to be reliable and accurate; (c) to the best of the author’s knowledge, they are not in receipt of inside information and this material does not contain inside information; and (d) no other part of the Westpac Group has made any attempt to influence this material.
Further important information regarding sustainability-related content: This material may contain statements relating to environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics. These are subject to known and unknown risks, and there are significant uncertainties, limitations, risks and assumptions in the metrics, modelling, data, scenarios, reporting and analysis on which the statements rely. In particular, these areas are rapidly evolving and maturing, and there are variations in approaches and common standards and practice, as well as uncertainty around future related policy and legislation. Some material may include information derived from publicly available sources that have not been independently verified. No representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information. There is a risk that the analysis, estimates, judgements, assumptions, views, models, scenarios or projections used may turn out to be incorrect. These risks may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The ESG-related statements in this material do not constitute advice, nor are they guarantees or predictions of future performance, and Westpac gives no representation, warranty or assurance (including as to the quality, accuracy or completeness of the statements). You should seek your own independent advice.
Additional country disclosures:
Australia: Westpac holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (No. 233714). You can access Westpac’s Financial Services Guide here or request a copy from your Westpac point of contact. To the extent that this information contains any general advice, it has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and before acting on it you should consider the appropriateness of the advice.
New Zealand: In New Zealand, Westpac Institutional Bank refers to the brand under which products and services are provided by either Westpac (NZ division) or Westpac New Zealand Limited (company number 1763882), the New Zealand incorporated subsidiary of Westpac ("WNZL"). Any product or service made available by WNZL does not represent an offer from Westpac or any of its subsidiaries (other than WNZL). Neither Westpac nor its other subsidiaries guarantee or otherwise support the performance of WNZL in respect of any such product. WNZL is not an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of Australian prudential standards. The current disclosure statements for the New Zealand branch of Westpac and WNZL can be obtained at the internet address www.westpac.co.nz .
Singapore: This material has been prepared and issued for distribution in Singapore to institutional investors, accredited investors and expert investors (as defined in the applicable Singapore laws and regulations) only. Recipients of this material in Singapore should contact Westpac Singapore Branch in respect of any matters arising from, or in connection with, this material. Westpac Singapore Branch holds a wholesale banking licence and is subject to supervision by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
U.S.: Westpac operates in the United States of America as a federally licensed branch, regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Westpac is also registered with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) as a Swap Dealer, but is neither registered as, or affiliated with, a Futures Commission Merchant registered with the US CFTC. The services and products referenced above are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). Westpac Capital Markets, LLC (‘WCM’), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Westpac, is a broker-dealer registered under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘the Exchange Act’) and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (‘FINRA’). In accordance with APRA's Prudential Standard 222 'Association with Related Entities', Westpac does not stand behind WCM other than as provided for in certain legal agreements between Westpac and WCM andobligations of WCM do not represent liabilities of Westpac. This communication is provided for distribution to U.S. institutional investors in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 15a-6 under the Exchange Act and is not subject to all of the independence and disclosure standards applicable to debt research reports prepared for retail investors in the United States. WCM is the U.S. distributor of this communication and accepts responsibility for the contents of this communication. Transactions by U.S. customers of any securities referenced herein should be effected through WCM. All disclaimers set out with respect to Westpac apply equally to WCM. If you would like to speak to someone regarding any security mentioned herein, please contact WCM on +1 212 389 1269. Investing in any non-U.S. securities or related financial instruments mentioned in this communication may present certain risks. The securities of non-U.S. issuers may not be registered with, or be subject to the regulations of, the SEC in the United States. Information on such non-U.S. securities or related financial instruments may be limited. Non-U.S. companies may not be subject to audit and reporting standards and regulatory requirements comparable to those in effect in the United States. The value of any investment or income from any securities or related derivative instruments denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars is subject to exchange rate fluctuations that may have a positive or adverse effect on the value of or income from such securities or related derivative instruments.
The author of this communication is employed by Westpac and is not registered or qualified as a research analyst, representative, or associated person of WCM or any other U.S. broker-dealer under the rules of FINRA, any other U.S. self-regulatory organisation, or the laws, rules or regulations of any State. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the views expressed herein are solely those of the author and may differ from the information, views or analysis expressed by Westpac and/or its affiliates.
UK and EU: The London branch of Westpac is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and is subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and limited regulation by the PRA (Financial Services Register number: 124586). The London branch of Westpac is registered at Companies House as a branch established in the United Kingdom (Branch No. BR000106). Details about the extent of the regulation of Westpac’s London branch by the PRA are available from us on request.
Westpac Europe GmbH (“WEG”) is authorised in Germany by the Federal Financial Supervision Authority (‘BaFin’) and subject to its regulation. WEG’s supervisory authorities are BaFin and the German Federal Bank (‘Deutsche Bundesbank’). WEG is registered with the commercial register (‘Handelsregister’) of the local court of Frankfurt am Main under registration number HRB 118483. In accordance with APRA’s Prudential Standard 222 ‘Association with Related Entities’, Westpac does not stand behind WEG other than as provided for in certain legal agreements (a risk transfer, sub-participation and collateral agreement) between Westpac and WEG and obligations of WEG do not represent liabilities of Westpac.
This communication is not intended for distribution to, or use by any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. This communication is not being made to or distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. Rather, this communication is being made only to and is directed at (a) those persons falling within the definition of Investment Professionals (set out in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”)); (b) those persons falling within the definition of high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc. (set out in Article 49(2)of the Order; (c) other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated in accordance with the Order or (d) any persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents. In the same way, the information contained in this communication is intended for “eligible counterparties” and “professional clients” as defined by the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and is not intended for “retail clients”. Westpac expressly prohibits you from passing on the information in this communication to any third party.
This communication contains general commentary, research, and market colour. The communication does not constitute investment advice. The material may contain an ‘investment recommendation’ and/or ‘information recommending or suggesting an investment’, both as defined in Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (including as applicable in the United Kingdom) (“MAR”). In accordance with the relevant provisions of MAR, reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the material has been objectively presented and that interests or conflicts of interest of the sender concerning the financial instruments to which that information relates have been disclosed.
Investment recommendations must be read alongside the specific disclosure which accompanies them and the general disclosure which can be found here. Such disclosure fulfils certain additional information requirements of MAR and associated delegated legislation and by accepting this communication you acknowledge that you are aware of the existence of such additional disclosure and its contents.
To the extent this communication comprises an investment recommendation it is classified as non-independent research. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and therefore constitutes a marketing communication. Further, this communication is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.