Trade balance for December,

  • expected -850m,
  • prior was -1016m, revised from -925m
  • December exports +1% m/m
  • imports -1% m/m

Out at the same time: Australia Building approvals for December: -3.3% m/m (expected -5.0%)

Both the building approvals and trade data beat expectations

abs trade 03 February 2015

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  • Low commodity prices means the run of trade deficits is likely to continue
  • This was the 9nth deficit in succession