Mid-Year Economic and Investment Outlook

This content is sourced from Vanguard and written by Grant Feng, Senior Economist, Vanguard.

Our latest forecasts for the Australian economy and investment returns in 2024.

*Inflation forecasts are for core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, except for Australia, where we measure headline inflation, which includes food and energy.

**Our forecast for the United States year-end monetary policy rate reflects our expected Federal Reserve federal funds target range.

Notes: Figures related to economic growth, inflation, monetary policy, and unemployment rate are Vanguard forecasts for the end of 2024.

Growth and inflation are comparisons with the end of the preceding year; monetary policy and unemployment rate are absolute levels.

Source: Vanguard, as of 25 June, 2024.

Below are our Australian economic and investment forecasts for year-end 2024.

 Economic Growth (1%)

Australia’s economy eked out real GDP growth of 0.1% in the first quarter, the product of weak labour productivity that has persisted for nearly two years. We foresee growth below trend for the full year in an economy that appears to be operating near capacity despite weak demand.

Headline Inflation (3%)

Unit labour costs are growing at a rate well above what is consistent with the 2%–3% inflation target of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), contributing to an overall stickiness in inflation. We expect a slowing in the pace of rental prices and wage growth to assist disinflation, though we expect such a slowing to be gradual.

Monetary Policy (4.35%)

We expect the RBA to be one of the last developed markets central banks to cut its policy rate—which we don’t foresee happening until 2025. To break the RBA’s tolerance for weak GDP data, opening the door to policy easing, inflation will need to return to sustainable levels.

Unemployment Rate (4.6%)

The employment-to-population ratio remains near its November 2023 high, suggesting a still-tight labour market. We expect the unemployment rate to rise from its current 4.1% to around 4.6% this year as financial conditions tighten in an environment of elevated interest rates.

What I’m Watching

Elevated unit labour costs

Labour productivity has sagged since mid-2022 and wages have risen, pushing unit labour costs well above what would be consistent with the RBA’s 2%–3% inflation target. We believe the Australian economy is operating around full capacity. Given the weak productivity, a sustained period of weak demand will be needed to bring inflation down to target.

Growth, inflation, monetary policy, and unemployment figures above are Vanguard forecasts for year-end 2024. Growth and inflation are comparisons with year-end 2023; monetary policy and unemployment are absolute.

Notes: Data reflect year-over-year percentage changes of four-quarter moving averages.

Sources: Vanguard calculations using data from CEIC as of 8 June, 2024.

Australian equity and fixed income outlook

Developed markets sovereign bond yields have mostly risen since the start of the year, pushing our 10-year annualised return forecasts higher as well. Our ex-U.S. developed markets domestic equities forecasts are flat to marginally higher, though higher U.S. equities valuations have largely dragged down global equities forecasts. Forecasts are from the perspective of local investors in local currencies.

IMPORTANT: The projections and other information generated by the Vanguard Capital Markets Model regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results. Distribution of return outcomes from the VCMM are derived from 10,000 simulations for each modeled asset class. Simulations are as of 31 December, 2023, and 31 May, 2024. Results from the model may vary with each use and over time. For more information, please see the important information slide.

Note: Figures are based on a 2-point range around the 50th percentile of the distribution of return outcomes for equities and a 1-point range around the 50th percentile for fixed income.

Source: Vanguard.

Vanguard's economic and returns forecasts for year-end 2024 | Vanguard Australia Personal Investor