The Reserve Bank (RBA) said in its November Statement on Monetary Policy deterioration in the economy had been less severe than expected, helped by early success in bringing infection rates down.
The RBA said the unemployment rate was likely to increase in the short term due to tightened JobSeeker requirements, but would peak far lower than the previously forecasted 10%.
"The unemployment rate is expected to peak a little below 8% around the end of the year," it said.
"This peak represents a very high level of spare capacity in the labour market.
"The unemployment rate is expected to decline only gradually, to just above 6% by the end of 2022."
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The central bank said policy support and a reopened Victoria would enable a quicker recovery in the national economy.
"After contracting by 4% over 2020 as a whole, GDP is expected to increase by around 5% over 2021 and 4% over 2022."
"This would bring GDP back to its end-2019 level by the end of 2021, but leave it well short of the path expected prior to the outbreak of the pandemic.
"The recovery can be expected to be bumpy and uneven, and highly sensitive to further virus outbreaks."
These scenarios are based on no further large outbreaks of COVID-19, with no new major economic restrictions imposed.
If there was to be a third wave and borders remained closed, the forecast for unemployment was significantly worse.
"Unemployment would increase more and stay high under this scenario," it said.
"After peaking at around 9%, the unemployment rate would still be around 8.5% by the end of 2022."
However, the RBA said additional progress in the control and treatment of the virus this year would significantly improve the labour market.
"Better health outcomes and ongoing control over the virus would boost confidence and help sustain a swifter recovery in household consumption and business investment.
"This would see the unemployment rate decline faster, reaching around 5.5% by the end of next year."
House price outlook uncertain
The RBA said although the house price crash many economists had predicted didn't eventuate, a spike in mortgage defaults could weaken the market.
"Although the national decline in housing prices has been limited to date, it is possible that conditions could weaken if there is a sharp increase in households that are unable to meet their mortgage obligations.
"This could be the result of a higher incidence of business failures and a further large rise in unemployment.
"Further out, the slowing in population growth could weigh on housing demand by more than is expected, resulting in lower prices and weaker dwelling investment."
But in the event of further government support, like an extension of the HomeBuilder scheme, prices could increase.
"In the other direction, substantial policy stimulus could lead to a sharper recovery in housing prices supporting a stronger outlook for private demand than currently forecast."
Cash rate to be unchanged for three years
The RBA cut the cash rate in November to a new record low of 0.10% on Tuesday, while also expanding its quantitative easing program by $100 billion.
It noted the Board was not contemplating a further reduction in interest rates.
"With the cash rate target at 10 basis points and the interest rate on Exchange Settlement balances at zero, interest rates have been lowered as far as it makes sense to do so in the current environment.
"The Board considers that there is little to be gained from short-term interest rates moving into negative territory and continues to view a negative policy rate as extraordinarily unlikely."
The central bank said it doesn't expect to hike rates for at least three years, with progress towards its goals some time away.
"The Board has committed not to increase the cash rate target until actual inflation is sustainably within the target range of 2–3%."
"This will require a period of strong employment growth and a return to a tight labour market."
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