Economics and strategy

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We provide our corporate and institutional clients with innovative research and practical general advice on the operating environment as well as specific guidance on both tactical and strategic matters.

Our research team combines traditional macroeconomics and forecasting with tactical and strategic market research, proprietary analytics and regulatory insight to provide general advice relating to the direct and indirect risks facing our clients.

The opinion of Westpac Economics on the economy and markets is highly sought after, complemented by our experienced strategy teams across the fixed income, currency and commodity worlds in Australia and New Zealand.

Our methodology is fundamentally driven and empirically grounded. Our experts across economics and strategy have a wide range of experience and expertise gained in both the public and private sectors, both in our home markets and abroad.

We produce and maintain a number of proprietary macroeconomic datasets including benchmark surveys of consumer sentiment in Australia and New Zealand.

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Westpac IQ

Westpac IQ is our complete source of economic and financial markets commentary along with trends shaping industry, innovation and sustainability, powered by our institutional bank expertise. Westpac IQ is world-class thinking in real time, helping you navigate the effects of global events in any corner of the world.

Find out more about Westpac IQ

Contact Westpac IQ: westpaciq@westpac.com.au

Latest economic articles

Commodities Update December 2025

December 16 2025 •
7 mins

Commodities delivered a surprisingly strong performance in 2025, with our broad index up 17%, led by a 60% rally in gold, 30% surge in copper, and a 12% gain in aluminium. Losses in LNG (–25%), crude oil (–14%) and thermal coal (–11%) only partially offset these gains, while iron ore defied expectations, rising 4% to US$105/t. This resilience underscores the potential for continued strength into 2026.

By Justin Smirk

Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update, December 2025

December 16 2025 •
4 mins

The HYEFU saw a slight downward revision to near-term bond issuance. However, the underlying fiscal picture is slightly weaker than in Budget 2025 with the return to surplus delayed another year.

By Darren Gibbs