Australia Personal Spending Rebounds in January

Household spending in Australia rose 0.3% month-on-month in January 2026, rebounding from an upwardly revised 0.5% decline in December. Expenditures increased the most for miscellaneous goods and services (2.5%), health (1.7%), and transport (0.3%). Smaller gains were also recorded for clothing and footwear (0.3%) and food (0.1%). In contrast, spending declined for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-1.7%), furnishings and household equipment (-0.7%), and hotels, cafes and restaurants (-0.6%). Regionally, spending grew in Tasmania (0.6%), New South Wales (0.5%), Victoria (0.5%), Queensland (0.1%), and Western Australia (0.3%), but declined in South Australia (-0.1%), the Northern Territory (-2.3%), and the Australian Capital Territory (-0.1%). On a yearly basis, household spending increased 4.6%, the slowest pace since late May, following a 5.0% rise in December.

Household spending in Australia dropped 0.4% mom in December 2025, reversing a 1.0% growth in the previous month and missing market estimates of a 0.2% increase. The latest result marked the first monthly contraction since March 2024, reflecting the impact of cost pressures and elevated interest rates. Expenditures fell for food (-0.4% vs 0.6% in November), clothing (-2.4% vs 2.5%), furnishings (-1.7% vs 2.4%), health (-1.3% vs 0.4%), recreation (-0.5% vs 2.0%), and miscellaneous items (-0.9% vs 0.2%). In contrast, spending rose for alcoholic drinks (2.0% vs -1.8%), transport (0.6% vs 0.6%), and hotels & restaurants (0.5% vs 1.2%). Regionally, spending shrank in New South Wales (-0.6%), Victoria (-1.0%), Western Australia (-0.3%), but increased in Queensland (0.2%), South Australia (0.3%), the Northern Territory (2.9%), and Tasmania (0.1%). On an annual basis, household spending grew 5.0%, the softest in four months, after a 6.0% gain in November.

Household spending in Australia rose 1.0% mom in November 2025, slowing from a marginally revised 1.4% growth in the prior month, which had marked the strongest gain in nearly two years. The slowdown reflected cautious consumer behavior, as households felt the impact of elevated interest rates. Expenditures moderated for food (0.7% vs 1.1% in October), furnishings (2.2% vs 3.0%), hotels & restaurants (1.2% vs 2.2%), and miscellaneous items (0.6% vs 1.6%). Spending on alcoholic drinks fell 1.8%, after rising 1.9% previously. In contrast, expenditures accelerated for health (0.5% vs 0.4%), transport (1.0% vs 0.4%), and recreation (1.7% vs 1.3%). Regionally, spending eased in New South Wales (0.8%), Victoria (1.0%), Queensland (1.0%), South Australia (0.8%), and the Northern Territory (0.5%), but quickened in Western Australia (1.7%). On an annual basis, household spending grew 6.3%, accelerating from a 5.7% gain in October and marking the fastest rise since September 2023.