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2026-09-16 14:06:08
[Westpac: Australia's Leading Index Improves, Year-End Economic Growth Forecast Raised to 1.5%] (1) Westpac, in conjunction with the Melbourne Institute, announced that Australia's six-month annualized leading index, which reflects the trend of economic activity over the next three to nine months, rose from -0.17% in July to -0.09% in August. (2) The index remains weak, but has improved since the middle of the year. (3) Westpac raised its year-end forecast for Australian economic growth from 1% to 1.5%, consistent with signs of improvement in the leading index. (4) The bank expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to maintain a hawkish stance at its policy meeting at the end of September, awaiting an update on the composite quarterly inflation data at the end of October.
