Australia’s household spending rose 0.6 % in September, according to official data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), after a modest 0.1 % decline in August. The rise marked the fourth consecutive quarter of growth in household spending.
Both essential and discretionary categories saw gains, with transport and health spending each increasing 1.5 %. Recreation and culture spending rose 0.8 %. Tom Lay, head of business statistics at the ABS, said the transport uptick was largely due to higher fuel, vehicle repairs, maintenance and domestic air travel, as people attended major sporting events.
Transport spending rose on higher expenditure on fuel, vehicle repairs and maintenance, and domestic air travel as people traveled to attend major sporting events, Lay said.
Fuel spending increased 5.4 % in September, reflecting higher global oil prices and the end of fuel excise relief on August 3. Experimental ABS data showed that the volume of fuel purchased fell 2.2 % during the month, following a 0.6 % decline in August.
Health spending rose due to higher costs for doctor visits, dental and optometric services, pharmaceuticals and toiletry goods. Lay added that late flu activity likely contributed to the rise by driving greater demand for medical consultations and medicines.
On a quarterly basis, household spending grew 0.7 % in the September quarter, with seven of nine spending categories recording increases. Transport posted the strongest growth, rising 1.6 % on the quarter, led by higher spending on air travel.
