According to latest data.
Consumer confidence was down 0.9% last week, according to ANZ-Roy Morgan data, giving back much of the prior week’s gain. The overall index is still above its starting point for 2019 but is almost 5% lower than its average for January 2018.
ANZ head of Australian economics, David Plank, said it has been a volatile start to the year for consumer sentiment, with the index displaying a down-up-down pattern, although it remains above the long-run average.
“Global news is not helping, with China slowing and political developments in the UK and US dispiriting. Domestically the focus remains on the weak housing market, though the evidence of a wider negative impact is still quite limited. Employment will be the key domestic data event this week,” he said.
The ‘time to buy a household item’ index fell 3.2% while financial conditions declined, with current and future financial conditions falling by 0.3% and 2.4% respectively. Both indices are around the levels seen this time last year and above long-run averages.
Economic conditions were mixed, with current economic conditions gaining 3.4% while future economic conditions fell 0.7%. These indices are 6–8% below the levels that prevailed in January 2018.