Economics Updates

Data released last week by the ABS shows short term (less than one year) arrivals into Australia were up 0.1% on the year to Dec 2011 to an annual total of 5.9 million. Departures increased 7.1% during the year for a total of 7.7 million. This has created a new record gap between arrivals and departures for a 12 month period with departures topping arrivals by just over 1.8 million.
The lure of a weaker Euro has obviously tempted many Aussies with departures to France up 24.7% and to Southern Europe up 26.8% on the year to Dec 2011! The weaker US$ has also made trips to the States attractive with an increase of 12.1% to the US.