Australian consumer confidence ticked higher in July, according to the latest Westpac-Melbourne Institute survey, as households welcomed easing fuel costs and a pause in interest rate increases. The index rose 2.2% to 83.2, still firmly in pessimistic territory but marking a modest recovery from the lows seen earlier this year.
Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan said the improvement was driven by a noticeable drop in anxiety around mortgage rates and petrol prices. “Households are feeling a little less squeezed, particularly on the fuel front, and the expectation that the RBA will hold rates steady has taken some of the edge off,” he noted.
The data comes as global central banks, including the Bank of England, continue to grapple with inflationary pressures. For UK investors and pension funds with holdings in Australian equities or bonds, the shift in sentiment could signal a more stable environment for Australian consumer-facing sectors such as retail and housing.
On the ASX, consumer discretionary stocks edged higher following the release, with retailers and travel-related names among the gainers. The broader S&P/ASX 200 index was flat on the day, as gains in consumer stocks offset weakness in mining and energy shares.
Analysts caution that the index remains well below the long-term average of 100, indicating that households are still cautious. “One month does not make a trend, but it is a welcome sign that the worst of the pessimism may be behind us,” said Diana Mousina, deputy chief economist at AMP Capital.