U.S. ECONOMY SHOWING RECOVERY, SAYS AUSSIE DON

MELBOURNE, April 9 (Bernama) -- The US economy is showing signs of recovery,
while the signs are good for Australia's major Asian trading partners, a
Reserve Bank of Australia board member says.

Australian National University economics Professor Warwick McKibbin, a
central bank voting member, said the US appeared to be emerging from the worst
of its recession.

"I can see green shoots of recovery," Dr McKibbin told ABC Television
Thursday.

"If you just look at the statistics you can see that the US by now should be
starting to come out of the dynamic adjusted path of recession."

Professor McKibbin said Australia's major trading partners were also showing
signs of strength, but he pointed out that a slowdown in the nation's export
performance would be unlikely to push the economy into recession.

"I see the US entering a recovery phase and I'm very optimistic with what's
happening in China and India and the developing world," he said.

Professor McKibbin, who in February called for the Rudd government's
stimulus handouts to be scrapped, restated his opposition to the bonus payments.

"I'm not a big fan of transfer payments," he said, adding taxpayer money
would be better spent on infrastructure.

Taxpayers earning less than A$80,000 a year are due to receive A$900
payments.
-- BERNAMA