Australia: Consumer sentiment largely unchanged in June
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index rose to 79.2 in June from 79.0 in May. Consequently, sentiment remained entrenched below the 100-mark, indicating that there were more pessimists than optimists among Australian consumers.
June’s reading saw improved households’ expectations over the economy in the next five years as well as rosier assessments of family finances. That said, consumers had gloomier expectations over family finances in the next 12 months, and their willingness to buy major household items deteriorated.