The economic backdrop to past elections

THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY AT ELECTION TIME 1996-2016

March 1996: John Howard's coalition wins power

Growth 3.1 pct

Inflation 5.1 pct

Jobless 8.3 pct

Cash Rate 7.5 pct

*Budget $11.1 bln deficit

*Debt $110 bln

October 1998: Howard holds government

Growth 3.9 pct

Inflation 0.7 pct

Jobless 7.6 pct

Cash Rate 5.0 pct

*Budget $3.9 bln surplus

*Debt $85 bln

November 2001: Howard holds government

Growth 1.4 pct

Inflation 2.5 pct

Jobless 7.2 pct

Cash rate 6.25 pct

*Budget $1.1 bln deficit

*Debt $63 bln

October 2004: Howard holds government

Growth 4.1 pct

Inflation 2.5 pct

Jobless 5.4 pct

Cash Rate 5.25 pct

*Budget $13.6 bln surplus

*Debt $55 bln

November 2007: Kevin Rudd's Labor wins power.

Growth 4.3 pct

Inflation 2.1 pct

Jobless 4.3 pct

Cash Rate 6.75 pct

*Budget $19.8 bln surplus

*Debt $55 bln

August 2010: Hung parliament, Julia Gillard's Labor secures minority government.

Growth 3.3 pct

Inflation 3.1 pct

Jobless 5.3 pct

Cash Rate 4.5 pct

*Budget $47.5 bln deficit

*Debt $191 bln

September 2013: Tony Abbott's coalition wins power.

Growth 2.6 pct

Inflation 2.4 pct

Jobless 5.8 pct

Cash rate 2.5 pct

*Budget $48.5 bln deficit

*Debt $319 bln

July 2 2016: Turnbull's coalition seeks re-election

Growth 3.0 pct

Inflation 1.3 pct

Jobless 5.7 pct

Cash rate 1.75 pct

*Budget $39.9 bln deficit

*Debt $427 bln

(ABS, RBA, *2016/17 budget)