Coming up at 2330GMT from Australia, Westpac's monthly consumer sentiment index
- for January
- prior +0.1% m/m to 104.4
Westpac in summary ahead of the release:
- Index essentially steady in December
- 'cautiously optimistic' consumer despite falling house prices, share market, concerns around trade wars, political uncertainty
- low interest rates, diminished fears about rising rates, firm labour market conditions, sharp drop in petrol prices … key supports
- January survey ... the headline is adjusted to remove a regular 'holiday' sentiment bump
As an aside the bank adds this:
- The survey is being conducted as a gloom descends over Australian mens cricket - with the national team losing to India in a domestic test series - for the first time ever.