Temporary factors might have dragged down Australia's economy, but there are warning signs the challenges it faces are more entrenched.

Economic growth figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday paint a gloomy picture.

Gross domestic product slowed to 0.2 per cent in the first three months of 2025, down from a 0.6 per cent rise in the December quarter and weaker than economists had been expecting.

"There was nothing to be happy about in the national accounts numbers today," mused EY's chief economist Cherelle Murphy.

While Treasurer Jim Chalmers said any growth was a decent outcome, given global uncertainty, a return to falling GDP per capita—a common measure of living standards—is worrying news.

The economy has been boosted in recent years by stronger public spending. Still, as state government infrastructure projects come to fruition and energy rebates unwind, Dr Chalmers promised that momentum would shift to the private sector.

With AAP.