Looking for proof that Australia has bounced back from the Covid recession?
Well, the economy grew 3.4% in the September 2020 quarter and 3.1% in the December quarter, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
That is the first time in recorded Australian history that GDP has grown faster than 3% in successive quarters.
Nevertheless, the Australian economy still went backwards in 2020, by 1.1%, because of the negative March and June quarters.
Speaking earlier this month, the governor of the Reserve Bank, Philip Lowe, said the back-to-back large increases in GDP had exceeded forecasts.
“They reflect the success that Australia has had on the health front, the very large fiscal and monetary policy support, and the flexibility of Australians in getting on with their lives and businesses,” he said.
“As a result, we are now within striking distance of recovering the pre-pandemic level of output.”