NOTES ON OCCASIONAL PAPER No.8 TABLES
Data presented in these tables are based on data published in the June 1996 hard copy volume of Occasional Paper No. 8 (Australian Economic Statistics 1949-50 to 1994-95). Selected tables were subsequently updated in October 1996 and October 1997, incorporating revisions to earlier data. The tables are intended to give, in a convenient form, a body of annual data that provides a long-term perspective on the Australian economy and financial system. Although efforts were made to achieve as much consistency as possible, complete consistency is not possible where data are derived from a variety of sources.
Some breaks and major discontinuities in data are inevitable in any large set of long-run data, and the relevance of some data can change substantially. For example, 90-day bill yields can be regarded as a key interest rate in the 1980s and 1990s, but even if reliable data were available before the 1970s it would be of much less relevance. Attempts have been made to identify breaks in data series (but not necessarily relevance), although on some occasions availability and relevance broadly coincide. Where possible, percentage changes across breaks in series are calculated using observations consistent with the preceding data. Data are not seasonally adjusted. Where other than annual totals (or averages) are shown, the impact of seasonal influences is limited by showing data for the same month of successive years.
The accuracy of some series is often less than suggested by the number of digits shown. In particular, estimates from surveys are subject to sampling error. Percentage changes etc of series with a small number of significant figures should be treated with particular caution: although some calculations were based on more digits than shown, greater detail was not available in many cases. Users also need to be aware that data for some aggregates for the latest year or two are still likely to be subject to revision. A number of national accounts aggregates (and capital and income, and therefore total current account) are prone to such revisions. Revisions to GDP data can also affect all those series shown as “Per cent to GDP” (even though the underlying data in the numerator may not have changed).
Discrepancies between a total and the sum of the components are, unless otherwise indicated, because of rounding. Rounding can also produce some minor differences in the last digit from the source publication (for example where annual numbers have been derived from more frequent observations).
Sources for the statistics are given below each table (and in many cases may not be the only available source). The main sources for Australian data are publications of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Statistics from most of these publications are available direct from the ABS via a range of hard copy and electronic services. Although some information is given in footnotes, no attempt has been made to provide comprehensive definitions and descriptions: they should be obtained from the relevant source.
While the tables were last updated (in part) in 1997, users will find that much of the material can easily be updated from regular publications of the Bank or the ABS.
Symbols used in the tables include:
n.a.	not available
.. or 0	not applicable, nil, or less than half the final digit shown
(p)	preliminary estimate
___	a line beneath a number indicates a break in the continuity of the series after that number