Estelle OzK

Australian households are still spending, but the latest figures suggest that everyday costs are taking priority. CommBank reported that household spending increased by just 0.1% in August 2026, while Westpac's September consumer sentiment survey showed that Australians were feeling less confident about their finances and the economy. For people living in Australia, these figures raise a practical question: how can we understand the wider economic picture without losing sight of our own household budget? Contents 1. What Australia's spending figures show 2. Why essential spending matters 3. How to read the consumer sentiment index 4. What the numbers do—and do not—tell us 5. The Estelle OzK perspective 6. This week's practical takeaway What Australia's Spending Figures Show According to CommBank's Household Spending Insights, Australian household spending rose by 0.1% in August 2026 compared with ...

If your usual grocery shop feels more expensive lately, you may not be imagining it. New research from Australian consumer group CHOICE found that the price of its eight-item grocery basket rose at Aldi, Woolworths, Coles and IGA between March and June 2026. The results, published on 24 September, offer a useful snapshot of supermarket prices. But how much can a national basket comparison tell us about our own weekly grocery bill? Contents 1. What the latest supermarket survey found 2. How supermarket prices changed from March to June 3. Why a basket is not a weekly grocery bill 4. Why specials can change the comparison 5. A simple way to compare products 6. What Australian shoppers can take away What the Latest Supermarket Survey Found CHOICE sent mystery shoppers to 104 supermarkets in 27 locations across Australia in June 2026. Its research covered Aldi, Woolworths, Coles and IGA, with products selected to make th...