Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index

Up 2.5% m/m to 97.9 in September

  • August was -1.2% m/m to 95.5

WPAC summary comments:

  • The consumer mood remains downbeat
  • September marking the tenth consecutive month that pessimists have outnumbered optimists
  • Pressures on family finances, concerns around interest rates, deteriorating housing affordability and rising energy prices have all weighed on confidence in 2017
  • These factors are more than offsetting the boost from an improved outlook for jobs particularly when a stronger labour market has not been associated with increased wages growth