Australia – Westpac Consumer Confidence Index (s.a.) for January: +2.4% (prior was -5.7% to 91.1)

Westpac Consumer Confidence Index (s.a.) for January is +2.4% to 93.2

• prior was -5.7% to 91.1 (December’s result was the lowest since August 2011)

• The index has been below 100 for nearly a full year
• The 6-month average is at its lowest since July of 2009

Westpac comments:

• Says the December employment report clearly boosted confidence
• The falls in the price of petrol are also a positive
• Wpac chief economist Evans still expects a February RBA rate cut