Australia’s Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index rose 1.2% mom to 91.6 in March 2026, reversing a 2.6% drop in the prior month and marking the first rise since last November. Household finances were mixed, with assessments up 1.8% to 80.2 compared with a year earlier, but expectations for the next 12 months edged down 0.1% to 97.6. Views on economic conditions over the next year fell 2.9% to 85.9, but the five-year outlook gained 2.4% to 96.3. The “time to buy a major household item” index strengthened 4.9% to 98.0. Unemployment expectations added 3.8% to 134.7. Westpac economist Matthew Hassan said domestic developments have been mixed, with 2025 growth exceeding the central bank’s expectations, though the latest survey suggests consumer momentum is cooling. He also noted rising global uncertainty has disrupted energy supplies and clouded the growth outlook. On balance, Westpac expects the RBA to hold rates in March, with any potential hike likely pushed further out. source: Westpac Banking Corporation, Melbourne Institute

Consumer Confidence MoM in Australia increased to 1.20 percent in March from -2.60 percent in February of 2026. Consumer Confidence MoM in Australia averaged 0.13 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 March of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-09 11:30 PM
Westpac Consumer Confidence Change
Feb -2.6% -1.7% -2.0%
2026-03-09 11:30 PM
Westpac Consumer Confidence Change
Mar 1.2% -2.6% -1.1%
2026-04-08 12:30 AM
Westpac Consumer Confidence Change
Apr 1.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bank Lending Rate 10.26 10.01 percent Feb 2026
Westpac Consumer Confidence Index 90.50 92.90 points Feb 2026
Westpac Consumer Confidence Change 1.20 -2.60 percent Mar 2026
Consumer Credit 2497.93 2487.29 AUD Billion Jan 2026
GDP Consumption 355694.00 354706.00 AUD Million Dec 2025
Disposable Personal Income 453531.00 445503.00 AUD Million Dec 2025
Gasoline Prices 1.22 1.23 USD/Liter Feb 2026
Households Debt to GDP 113.20 113.60 percent of GDP Sep 2025
Housing Credit MoM 0.60 0.70 percent Jan 2026
Personal Savings 6.90 6.10 percent Dec 2025
Private Sector Credit MoM 0.50 0.80 percent Jan 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
1.20 -2.60 18.00 -17.70 1974 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Australia Consumer Sentiment Bounces Back
Australia’s Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index rose 1.2% mom to 91.6 in March 2026, reversing a 2.6% drop in the prior month and marking the first rise since last November. Household finances were mixed, with assessments up 1.8% to 80.2 compared with a year earlier, but expectations for the next 12 months edged down 0.1% to 97.6. Views on economic conditions over the next year fell 2.9% to 85.9, but the five-year outlook gained 2.4% to 96.3. The “time to buy a major household item” index strengthened 4.9% to 98.0. Unemployment expectations added 3.8% to 134.7. Westpac economist Matthew Hassan said domestic developments have been mixed, with 2025 growth exceeding the central bank’s expectations, though the latest survey suggests consumer momentum is cooling. He also noted rising global uncertainty has disrupted energy supplies and clouded the growth outlook. On balance, Westpac expects the RBA to hold rates in March, with any potential hike likely pushed further out.
2026-03-09
Australia Consumer Sentiment Falls for 3rd Month
Australia’s Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index dropped 2.6% mom in February 2026 to a ten-month low of 90.5, extending January’s 1.7% fall and marking the third straight monthly decline. The latest result highlighted inflation concerns and the impact of the central bank’s 25bp rate hike earlier this month, the first in over two years. Household finances weakened further, with assessments down 4.7% to 78.8 compared with a year earlier, and expectations for the next 12 months slipping 0.1% to 97.7. Meanwhile, views on economic conditions over the next year edged up 0.1% to 88.5, but the five-year outlook fell 2.5% to 94.1. The “time to buy a major household item” index shrank 5.6% to 93.5. Unemployment expectations added 0.3% to 129.8, in line with historical averages. Westpac’s Mathew Hassan said that while another RBA rate hike cannot be ruled out, the board is likely to wait for more data at the March 16–17 meeting, with the next 25bp move potentially coming in May.
2026-02-09
Australia Consumer Sentiment Hit 3-Month Low
Australia’s Westpac–Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index slipped 1.7% mom in January 2026 to a three-month low of 92.9, extending December’s sharp 9.0% plunge as shifting interest rate expectations weighed on confidence. Sentiment showed mixed signals: the one-year economic outlook fell 6.5% to 88.4, while the five-year view edged up 0.9% to 96.5. Household finances also diverged, with assessments rising 2.3% to 82.7 compared to a year ago, but views for the next 12 months fell 4.5% to 97.8. The “time to buy a major household item” index edged up 0.2% to 99.1. Meanwhile, views on unemployment worsened, with the index climbing 2.1% to 129.4, slightly above its long-run average, signaling rising concern over job prospects. Westpac’s head of Australian macro-forecasting, Mathew Hassan, said consumers are increasingly wary about 2026, noting that recent strong inflation and resilient domestic spending have heightened fears that cost pressures are not yet under control.
2026-01-12