Australian household spending rises 0.6% in September

Household spending in Australia rose 0.6% in September 2026 on the previous month, in current prices and seasonally adjusted, and was 6.8% higher than a year earlier, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on 4 November 2026 in its Monthly Household Spending Indicator (ABS, September 2026).

Key figures, September 2026

• Household spending (current prices, seasonally adjusted): up 0.6% on the month; up 6.8% on a year earlier; $82,610.8 million
• Trend estimate: up 0.4% on the month; up 6.0% on a year earlier
• August: down 0.1%
• September quarter, volume terms: up 0.7% on the June quarter; up 3.2% on a year earlier

Goods, services and categories

Spending on goods rose 0.3%, driven by motoring goods, goods for recreation and culture, and medicines and medical products. Spending on services rose 1.1%, driven by air passenger and sea transport, health services and recreational and cultural services.

Spending rose in six of the nine categories. The largest increases were in transport (1.5%), health (1.5%) and recreation and culture (0.8%). Food spending fell 0.1%, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco 0.7%.

States and territories

Spending rose in all eight states and territories, most strongly in the Northern Territory (1.2%), Western Australia (1.1%) and Victoria (1.0%).

Context and next release

The ABS publishes the October figures on 30 November 2026. Other Australian data this week: Australia's goods surplus rises to A$2.8bn in September. Inflation: Australia's CPI at 4.3% in September. Live prices: AUD/USD.