Household spending up 3.1% in the last 12 months

Media Release

Released

12/01/2024

Source

Monthly Household Spending Indicator, November 2023

Household spending was 3.1 per cent higher than a year ago, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Robert Ewing, ABS head of business statistics, said: “The rise in spending was driven by spending on essential goods and services.

“Non-discretionary spending rose 5.8 per cent compared to November last year, as spending on transport and health increased by 8.3 per cent and 7.8 per cent respectively.

“Meanwhile, Black Friday sales boosted discretionary spending in November, similar to the previous year, so that households spent 0.3 per cent more than November 2022 on discretionary goods and services.

“Spending on furnishings and household equipment was 1.7 per cent higher than the same time last year, while clothing and footwear fell 0.1 per cent.”

Household discretionary and non-discretionary spending, current price, calendar adjusted
	Discretionary - Through the year change (%)	Non Discretionary - Through the year change (%)
Nov-21	9.6	9.7
Dec-21	4.6	8.1
Jan-22	5.5	8.7
Feb-22	11.8	13.5
Mar-22	10.1	12.3
Apr-22	13.1	13.3
May-22	12.3	14.8
Jun-22	13.3	19.2
Jul-22	21.8	26.5
Aug-22	26.8	31.8
Sep-22	26.7	31.7
Oct-22	17.7	27.3
Nov-22	7.4	21.5
Dec-22	6.6	18.1
Jan-23	10.1	20.7
Feb-23	3.2	16.0
Mar-23	1.2	14.0
Apr-23	0	13.2
May-23	0.7	11.7
Jun-23	1.1	9.9
Jul-23	-0.7	8.4
Aug-23	0.5	10.0
Sep-23	0.2	9.1
Oct-23	-1.1	7.2
Nov-23	0.3	5.8

 Household discretionary and non-discretionary spending, current price, calendar adjusted

["","Discretionary - Through the year change","Non Discretionary - Through the year change"]

[["Nov-21","Dec-21","Jan-22","Feb-22","Mar-22","Apr-22","May-22","Jun-22","Jul-22","Aug-22","Sep-22","Oct-22","Nov-22","Dec-22","Jan-23","Feb-23","Mar-23","Apr-23","May-23","Jun-23","Jul-23","Aug-23","Sep-23","Oct-23","Nov-23"],[[9.5999999999999996],[4.5999999999999996],[5.5],[11.800000000000001],[10.1],[13.1],[12.300000000000001],[13.300000000000001],[21.800000000000001],[26.800000000000001],[26.699999999999999],[17.699999999999999],[7.4000000000000004],[6.5999999999999996],[10.1],[3.2000000000000002],[1.2],[0],[0.69999999999999996],[1.1000000000000001],[-0.69999999999999996],[0.5],[0.20000000000000001],[-1.1000000000000001],[0.29999999999999999]],[[9.6999999999999993],[8.0999999999999996],[8.6999999999999993],[13.5],[12.300000000000001],[13.300000000000001],[14.800000000000001],[19.199999999999999],[26.5],[31.800000000000001],[31.699999999999999],[27.300000000000001],[21.5],[18.100000000000001],[20.699999999999999],[16],[14],[13.199999999999999],[11.699999999999999],[9.9000000000000004],[8.4000000000000004],[10],[9.0999999999999996],[7.2000000000000002],[5.7999999999999998]]]

[]

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Compared to the same time last year, household spending rose in all states and territories.

The Northern Territory had the largest rise in spending (+8.7 per cent), followed by South Australia (+5.2 per cent) and Western Australia (+4.6 per cent).

Household spending, current price, TTY % change, calendar adjusted, by state/territory
	Sep-2023 (%)	Oct-2023 (%)	Nov-2023 (%)
NSW	4.5	2.9	2.2
Vic.	4.8	2.8	4.0
Qld	4.0	2.5	1.5
SA	6.4	4.5	5.2
WA	6.2	5.2	4.6
Tas.	5.0	3.3	1.2
NT	3.3	6.4	8.7
ACT	5.6	3.4	2.3

 Household spending, current price, TTY % change, calendar adjusted, by state/territory

["","Sep-2023","Oct-2023","Nov-2023"]

[["NSW","Vic.","Qld","SA","WA","Tas.","NT","ACT"],[[4.5],[4.7999999999999998],[4],[6.4000000000000004],[6.2000000000000002],[5],[3.2999999999999998],[5.5999999999999996]],[[2.8999999999999999],[2.7999999999999998],[2.5],[4.5],[5.2000000000000002],[3.2999999999999998],[6.4000000000000004],[3.3999999999999999]],[[2.2000000000000002],[4],[1.5],[5.2000000000000002],[4.5999999999999996],[1.2],[8.6999999999999993],[2.2999999999999998]]]

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Media notes

The indicator is produced using aggregated and de-identified card and bank transactions from banking and financial institutions.
The indicator includes nine of the 13 key divisions classified, according to the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP).
The indicator is produced in current price original and current price calendar adjusted terms only.
Until the indicator is seasonally adjusted, it is advised to focus on annual comparisons (e.g. November 2023 compared to November 2022).
Significant events such as COVID-19 can lead to very strong annual rises. Care should be given when comparing periods with these events.
Care should be given when comparing Household Spending Indicator estimates with other ABS products. See the Methodology page for further information.
When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Media Team via media@abs.gov.au (8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri).
Subscribe to our media release notification service to get notified of ABS media releases or publications upon their release.

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Household spending up 3.1% in the last 12 months

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