Australia’s Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index jumped 6.0% mom to 88.9 in August 2026, accelerating from a 4.1% rise in the prior month and marking its fastest gain since November 2025. However, the index remained almost 10% below its level a year earlier. Sentiment strengthened as mortgage holders became less concerned about further interest rate increases. Views of household finances brightened, with assessments of the past year surging 12.6% to 80.0, while 12-month expectations rose 1.8% to 98.2. Economic sentiment also improved, with the one-year outlook up 5.8% to 82.8 and the five-year measure rising 3.2% to 89.8. The gauge on whether it was a good time to buy major household items jumped 8.1% to 93.8, while unemployment expectations increased 4.4% to 135.7. Westpac economist Matthew Hassan said the Reserve Bank has scope to hold the cash rate after three hikes this year while assessing the impact of tighter policy and whether underlying inflation has peaked. source: Westpac Banking Corporation, Melbourne Institute

Consumer Confidence MoM in Australia increased to 6 percent in August from 4.10 percent in July of 2026. Consumer Confidence MoM in Australia averaged 0.12 percent from 1974 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 18.00 percent in September of 2020 and a record low of -17.70 percent in April of 2020. This page includes a chart with historical data for Australia Consumer Confidence MoM. Australia Consumer Confidence MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on September of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-07-14 12:30 AM
Westpac Consumer Confidence Change
Jul 4.1% -2.9% 2.5%
2026-08-18 12:30 AM
Westpac Consumer Confidence Change
Aug 6% 4.1% -2.6%
2026-09-08 12:30 AM
Westpac Consumer Confidence Change
Sep 6% -3.6%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bank Lending Rate 10.76 10.76 percent Jul 2026
Westpac Consumer Confidence Index 88.90 83.90 points Aug 2026
Westpac Consumer Confidence Change 6.00 4.10 percent Aug 2026
Consumer Credit 2573.91 2568.43 AUD Billion Jul 2026
GDP Consumption 358963.00 357486.00 AUD Million Jun 2026
Disposable Personal Income 462107.00 457000.00 AUD Million Jun 2026
Gasoline Prices 1.44 1.27 USD/Liter Aug 2026
Households Debt to GDP 114.00 113.40 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Housing Credit MoM 0.50 0.60 percent Jul 2026
Personal Savings 6.50 6.40 percent Jun 2026
Private Sector Credit MoM 0.60 0.80 percent Jul 2026


Australia Consumer Confidence MoM
The Consumer Sentiment Index is based on a survey of over 1,200 Australian households. The Index is an average of five component indexes which reflect consumers' evaluations of their household financial situation over the past year and the coming year, anticipated economic conditions over the coming year and the next five years, and buying conditions for major household items. The index scores above 100 indicate that optimists outweigh pessimists.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
6.00 4.10 18.00 -17.70 1974 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Australia Consumer Sentiment Hits 9-Month High
Australia’s Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index jumped 6.0% mom to 88.9 in August 2026, accelerating from a 4.1% rise in the prior month and marking its fastest gain since November 2025. However, the index remained almost 10% below its level a year earlier. Sentiment strengthened as mortgage holders became less concerned about further interest rate increases. Views of household finances brightened, with assessments of the past year surging 12.6% to 80.0, while 12-month expectations rose 1.8% to 98.2. Economic sentiment also improved, with the one-year outlook up 5.8% to 82.8 and the five-year measure rising 3.2% to 89.8. The gauge on whether it was a good time to buy major household items jumped 8.1% to 93.8, while unemployment expectations increased 4.4% to 135.7. Westpac economist Matthew Hassan said the Reserve Bank has scope to hold the cash rate after three hikes this year while assessing the impact of tighter policy and whether underlying inflation has peaked.
2026-08-18
Australia Consumer Morale Jumps
Australia’s Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index climbed 4.1% to 83.9 in July 2026, reversing June’s 2.9% fall as worries over energy costs, rising rates, and labor market weakness eased. Yet confidence remains historically fragile, still lodged in the bottom decile of the survey’s 50-year record and vulnerable to global shocks, particularly Middle East tensions. Households showed brighter views of their finances, with assessments of the past year up 5.6% to 71.1 and 12-month expectations surging 13.4% to 96.5. Economic sentiment improved, with the one-year outlook up 0.6% to 78.3 and the five-year measure rising 0.7% to 87.1. The gauge on whether it is a good time to buy major household items edged up 0.5% to 86.8, and unemployment expectations fell 7.1% to 129.9. Westpac economist Matthew Hassan cautioned that inflation remains the Reserve Bank’s central concern, with the June-quarter CPI likely decisive ahead of the August meeting, where he expects another 25bp hike.
2026-07-14
Australian Consumer Sentiment Falls
Australia’s Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index dropped 2.9% month-over-month to 80.6 in June 2026, reversing May’s gain and marking its fourth decline this year. Cost-of-living pressures remained the dominant drag, with the temporary halving of the fuel excise tax offering only fleeting relief. Household finances weakened sharply: assessments versus a year ago dropped 7.5% to 67.3, while 12-month expectations slid 8.5% to 85.1. Views on the broader economy were mixed, with the one-year outlook up 4.9% to 77.8 but the five-year measure down 3.2% to 86.5, a three-year low. The “time to buy a major item” index rose 0.9% to 86.4, and unemployment expectations edged down 0.1% to 139.8. Westpac economist Matthew Hassan said the impact of three rate hikes this year is increasingly evident, but inflation remains the immediate concern, with energy costs yet to fully feed through. While a pause is possible at the next meeting, Westpac expects further tightening in the year.
2026-06-09