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Australia's economy will slow down over the next 12 months, but not catastrophically so, a global consulting firm has predicted.

Deloitte Access Economics's quarterly Business Outlook forecasts economic growth of 3.0 per cent in 2022/23 and 2.5 per cent the following year.

Author Stephen Smith calls it "a middle ground between continued recovery from the previous effects of the virus, and the dampening impact of uncertainty, rising interest rates, higher inflation and softer consumer confidence".

He predicts that price growth will peak at 6.6 per cent in the second half of 2022, while the cash rate could peak below 2.5 per cent in the current tightening cycle.

"However, any sign of further acceleration in price growth would see the RBA lift rates further and make the balance between fighting inflation and supporting economic growth more challenging," he wrote.

"That would inch Australia closer to 'stagflation' - a central banker's worst nightmare."

Mr Smith wrote that "structural challenges" would likely dog South Australia and Tasmania in the year ahead, while Victoria and NSW will have to deal with the impact of rising interest rates and swollen mortgages.

Queensland, WA and the NT will be hoping commodity prices stay higher for longer, while ACT should benefit from a lift in the ranks of the public service.

Plausible risks to the downside include the USA entering a recession that drags down the global economy, and a larger drop in house prices than the 15 per cent many are expecting.

There are also renewed concerns over Australia's energy market with reliability issues around ageing coal-fired power plants, Mr Smith wrote.

He predicts wage growth lifting to above three per cent in 2023, with his base case forecasts assuming a wage-price spiral are avoided. (That's when price pressures lead to higher wages, increasing business costs and demand, driving prices even higher).

"However, the prospects of that occurring are greater than before the pandemic, and would risk a period of more entrenched inflation," he wrote.

© AAP 2022

Australian dog lovers coped better with loneliness during COVID lockdowns than those without pets, a study has found.

But it was increased mindfulness that likely caused the robust response to the pandemic by the canine-owning cohort rather than their dogs or even the opportunity to venture out with their 'best friends' for a walk, say James Cook University researchers.

"We found both dog and cat ownership positively impacted feelings of loneliness for people living alone and that dog ownership, in particular, is associated with decreased loneliness during a lockdown," psychologist Jessica Oliva said on Monday.

The team also found a significant relationship between increased mindfulness and decreased loneliness.

"It's possible the lower levels of loneliness observed in dog owners is more related to the type of personality associated with being a person who owns a dog than the dogs themselves," said Dr Oliva.

Dog lovers were found to be significantly different from cat lovers across the five main personality traits - extroversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness and neuroticism.

"The association between higher levels of mindfulness and lower levels of loneliness are consistent with previous research that suggests that mindfulness alleviates or prevents loneliness," said Dr Oliva.

"This means that efforts to find ways to increase the state of mindfulness during social isolation are important."

Mindfulness is the ability to keep the brain attending to what is occurring in the present moment and calmly acknowledge and accept feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations.

The team surveyed 534 dog owners, cat owners and those without pets living alone in Australia during the second lockdown period.

A previous study during the first COVID-19 lockdown found dog owners living alone were less likely to be lonely than non-dog owners because they left home and walked their pets, giving them opportunities to socialise and exercise.

But the James Cook researchers did not find evidence to support this conclusion. However, they acknowledged some restrictions during the second lockdown also impacted dog walking and that this may have reduced the frequency, duration and benefits of it.

© AAP 2022

Gold Coast have blown a huge chance to press their case for a maiden AFL finals appearance, suffering a horror 48-point defeat at the hands of Essendon.

The Bombers prevailed 14.19 (103) to 8.7 (55) at Marvel Stadium on Sunday to continue their late-season resurgence with a fourth win in five games.

But while Ben Rutten's side are out of the finals picture, the Suns were left to rue a missed opportunity in a bitterly disappointing performance with so much on the line.

An opportunity arrived on Saturday for the group of teams chasing eighth spot when incumbents Richmond were upset by last-placed North Melbourne.

Gold Coast (8-8) failed to take advantage and now sit one win behind the Tigers, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda (all 9-7) ahead of a huge clash with Queensland rivals Brisbane in round 19.

The Suns' percentage was 108.9 but dropped to 104.7 as a result of their thumping from Essendon.

"There was an opportunity there, the door got opened and we didn't walk through it, and that's the most disappointing thing," Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew said.

"We lost connection and for periods of the game it looked like they had one or two extra (players) on the ground the way they opened us up.

"That hasn't happened to us for a long time.

"They played a good style of footy and beat us inside and out ... and that stings because it's not like we delivered our best football here today."

The Bombers' triumph was built on superior intensity around the ball and a hard-running midfield, which set up ample opportunities to kick a winning score.

Zach Merrett (36 disposals), Mason Redman (34) and Dylan Shiel (29) racked up touches and Jake Stringer kicked four goals, while former Suns forward Peter Wright, Harrison Jones, Nic Martin and Sam Draper kicked two goals each.

Cult hero Draper provided the highlight with a running goal-of-the-year contender direct from a centre bounce during the final quarter, shrugging off two opponents as he galloped towards goal.

The ruckman's finish on the outside of his right boot brought the house down.

Rutten hailed Draper's flair and importance to his teammates but it was the Bombers' continued growth as a team that most impressed their coach as they ran out four strong quarters.

"It was a good bit of maturity, continuing to play our way and being strong around the contest," Rutten said.

Gold Coast duo Noah Anderson (24 disposals, seven clearances) and Touk Miller (28 disposals, seven tackles, nine clearances) were in the thick of the action but the Suns had few clear winners.

They were thrashed in contested possession (140-118) and uncontested possession (265-164), and beaten in tackles (53-47).

"If you want a blueprint on how not to play the game it's get beaten in contested, beaten in uncontested and beaten in tackles," Dew said.

"It's not great reading."

© AAP 2022