Australia: Consumer sentiment improves in March
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index rose to 111.8 in March from 109.1 in February. Therefore, sentiment moved further above the 100-mark, indicating that there were more optimists than pessimists among Australian consumers.
March’s improvement came on the back of stronger expectations of family finances in the next 12 months; more optimistic expectations over the economy in the next 12 months and five years; and falling unemployment expectations.
FocusEconomics panelists are still assessing the latest developments.