The Queensland economy had increasingly recovered from its post-mining boom blues over the past couple of years, according to the Deloitte report, which said exports had surged in both gas and tourism. "People have finally been moving from interstate in droves, either cashing in the big bucks as they sell up in Sydney or Melbourne, or avoiding those cities altogether and choosing Brisbane as the first option as they move from the likes of Perth, Adelaide or Darwin," the report said. But Queensland was taking a breather from a strong run as housing experienced "hiccups" and an earlier surge in jobs ran its course, settling at more reasonable rates. "Yet we'd call it a lull in growth rather than a rout, as we expect growth to pick up again towards the end of this year an remain fairly strong," Deloitte said. The report said Queensland consumers had lost a bit of confidence during 2018, not due to the housing market, but because job growth had "fallen off a cliff".

"Job growth went from hell-for-leather rates in 2017 to barely anything now and that has knocked growth in household spending power," it reads. Loading Growth in tourist arrivals had slowed amid a temporary bounce in the Australian dollar in early 2018 and recent floods in north Queensland were a "kick in the guts" for farmers that would hurt farm exports. Deloitte said housing construction continued to fall but strong population growth would continue to underpin the economy and consumer spending. The report predicted the flow of people from interstate may soon peak as Sydney and Melbourne's housing markets became "less scary" but Queensland would still receive a much higher level of interstate migrants than during much of the past decade.