The numbers you need

According to the article, the price of gold has risen about 20% since June. The rise is being driven by stronger demand from consumers in Asia and by investors who were spooked by events in Syria, while miners have been scaling back production.

A reading of 39 is the Australian Industry Group's services index for August. The article notes that anything below 50 represents a contraction, so a 39 indicates the services sector was contracting in that month.

The article states Australia's trade surplus with China was $32.05 billion in the 12 months to July. It also reports that China accounted for a record 32.9% of Australian exports, and that Australia’s reliance on China is greater than it was when Japanese industrialisation peaked.

The article reports that 24% of first-time property investors said they will allow tenants with pets to live in their investment property.

Australia's ETF market is reported as $8.8 billion in size. The article explains ETFs are securities that track or mirror market indexes and prices.

The article says investors spooked by events in Syria helped drive stronger demand for gold, contributing to the recent rise in the metal's price.

Yes. The article notes miners have been scaling back production, and that reduced supply alongside stronger demand is part of the explanation for the roughly 20% rise in gold since June.

The numbers in the article highlight several trends: a sharp recent rise in gold prices driven by demand and lower production, a contracting services sector (index reading 39), significant exposure of Australia’s economy to China ($32.05 billion surplus and 32.9% of exports), a modest share of new landlords open to tenants with pets (24%), and an $8.8 billion ETF market that tracks market indexes and prices.