[Singel]

In today's paper with heading : Belt up for a bumpy economic ride

17.09.05
By Geoff Cumming

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

The Bad
* Fuel costs - direct impact on motorists' hip pockets
* Fuel costs - rising transport costs may force prices up
* Higher inflation keeping interest rates up
* Homeowners paying more as fixed mortgages renewed
* Consumer spending declines, retailers suffer
* High dollar squeezing export margins
* Export commodity prices tightening
* Current account deficit keeping interest rates up
* Tourism downturn
* House prices predicted to fall
* Job growth flattens as employers consolidate
* Rising electricity prices

The Good
* Reserve Bank expects inflation to decline next year
* Exchange rate to fall as growth softens; exporters benefit
* Oil price expected to drop towards US$40 ($56) a barrel
* House price inflation to ease
* Global markets to improve
* Trade deals bringing new opportunities
* Manufacturers still expecting growth
* Resilient labour market
* Consumers still spending
* Retailing still growing overall
* Fiscal policies to put more in people's pockets

The Unknown
* Oil price - how long will it stay up?
* The weather - drought fears on the farm
* A major shock - we're vulnerable

:roll :uhoh