Australian unemployment rates rose to 4.1% in March, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) at the beginning of the Asian session today, Thursday. Expectations had been for a rise of around 4.2%, coinciding with an increase in the labor force participation rate to 66.8% from 66.7%.
The Australian economy added approximately 32,200 jobs in March, bringing the total number of jobs to 14,544,100. February’s reading was revised downward, with a loss of 57,500 jobs, compared to expectations for an increase of approximately 39,800. Inflation rises in New Zealand
New Zealand’s quarterly inflation rate rose 0.9% in the first quarter of this year, ending in March, according to Statistics New Zealand data released this morning. The rate was 0.9% quarter-on-quarter, compared to 1.5% in the fourth quarter of last year (expected 0.7%). The CPI rose 2.5% year-on-year, compared to 2.2% in the fourth quarter.
In detail, gasoline prices rose 4.6%, despite a 2.8% year-on-year decline. Inflation in the tertiary and other post-secondary education sectors rose 22.6%, while milk, cheese, and egg prices rose 5.6%.