Forget "technical recession" definition - economists say deep contraction is already here

Economists expect Australia's economy slightly contracted in the first three months of 2020 in the prelude to confirmation of a deep recession later this year. 

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans says despite the technical definition of two consecutive negative quarters of growth, surging unemployment shows Australia's economy is already in deep distress from lockdown restrictions. 

But ABC's Peter Ryan says there is an outside chance that the March quarter could come in marginally positive.