Australia’s trade surplus remained elevated in November and hit $13.2 billion after exceeding $12 billion for two months in a row.

The balance on goods and services was $12.7 billion in October and $12.5 billion in September.

ANZ economists expected to see a cooler $11.5 billion surplus for the month.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported exports dipping 0.4 per cent and imports falling 1.5 per cent over the month.

Jobs marketplace SEEK has also released its monthly job ads report, which showed a 2.6 per cent decline in the final month of 2022.

This followed a larger 4.9 per cent drop the month before.

SEEK ANZ managing director Kendra Banks said the slowdown in ads posted to the site suggested firms were winding down at the end of the year.

Despite job ad volumes plummeting 21 per cent from their May 2022 peak, they remain 34 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.

Applications per job lifted by 10.4 per cent, which Ms Banks said indicated candidates were willing to take up opportunities in the new year.

“Hospitality and tourism roles have seen the greatest increase in applications per job ad, while workers in trades and services are heavily in demand,” she observed.

In November, applications per job edged downwards by 1.1 per cent.

By Poppy Johnston in Canberra

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