Australia: Consumer sentiment at one-and-a-half-year low in April
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index decreased to 95.8 in April from 96.6 in March, marking the lowest reading since September 2020. Therefore, sentiment moved further below the 100-mark, indicating that there were more pessimists than optimists among Australian consumers.
April’s drop came on the back of deteriorated households’ willingness to buy major household items as well as worsened expectations of family finances in the next 12 months and assessments of family finances compared to one year ago. On the other hand, expectations over the economy in the next 12 months and five years improved.
FocusEconomics panelists are still assessing the latest developments.