Latest release

Monthly Household Spending Indicator

Experimental indicator of household spending using bank transactions data

Reference period

March 2022

Released

23/05/2022

Key statistics

Household spending increased 6.6% through the year, current price, calendar adjusted.
Through the year, household spending increased the most for recreation and culture (+17.8%), clothing and footwear (+15.2%), and transport (+12.5%).
Victoria (+8.5%) and Queensland (+8.5%) were the states with highest increase in household spending through the year.

Household spending, current price, calendar adjusted (indexed to January 2019)
	Index	Monthly	Through the year
Jan-2019	100
Feb-2019	103.6	3.6
Mar-2019	106.1	2.4
Apr-2019	105.3	-0.8
May-2019	107.5	2.1
Jun-2019	111	3.3
Jul-2019	107.7	-3
Aug-2019	109.4	1.6
Sep-2019	109	-0.4
Oct-2019	111.6	2.4
Nov-2019	115.6	3.6
Dec-2019	123.6	6.9
Jan-2020	106.1	-14.2	6.1
Feb-2020	104.1	-1.9	0.5
Mar-2020	101	-3	-4.8
Apr-2020	74.6	-26.1	-29.2
May-2020	89.3	19.7	-16.9
Jun-2020	98.7	10.5	-11.1
Jul-2020	100.1	1.4	-7.1
Aug-2020	95.4	-4.7	-12.8
Sep-2020	98.6	3.4	-9.5
Oct-2020	100.9	2.3	-9.6
Nov-2020	115.3	14.3	-0.3
Dec-2020	123.6	7.2	0
Jan-2021	101.2	-18.1	-4.6
Feb-2021	103.9	2.7	-0.2
Mar-2021	108.3	4.2	7.2
Apr-2021	107.5	-0.7	44.1
May-2021	110.1	2.4	23.3
Jun-2021	110.5	0.4	12
Jul-2021	102.9	-6.9	2.8
Aug-2021	100	-2.8	4.8
Sep-2021	103.7	3.7	5.2
Oct-2021	110.3	6.4	9.3
Nov-2021	125.1	13.4	8.5
Dec-2021	128	2.3	3.6
Jan-2022	106.8	-16.6	5.5
Feb-2022	113.2	6	9
Mar-2022	115.4	1.9	6.6

["","Index","Monthly","Through the year"]

[["Jan-2019","Feb-2019","Mar-2019","Apr-2019","May-2019","Jun-2019","Jul-2019","Aug-2019","Sep-2019","Oct-2019","Nov-2019","Dec-2019","Jan-2020","Feb-2020","Mar-2020","Apr-2020","May-2020","Jun-2020","Jul-2020","Aug-2020","Sep-2020","Oct-2020","Nov-2020","Dec-2020","Jan-2021","Feb-2021","Mar-2021","Apr-2021","May-2021","Jun-2021","Jul-2021","Aug-2021","Sep-2021","Oct-2021","Nov-2021","Dec-2021","Jan-2022","Feb-2022","Mar-2022"],[[100],[103.59999999999999],[106.09999999999999],[105.3],[107.5],[111],[107.7],[109.40000000000001],[109],[111.59999999999999],[115.59999999999999],[123.59999999999999],[106.09999999999999],[104.09999999999999],[101],[74.599999999999994],[89.299999999999997],[98.700000000000003],[100.09999999999999],[95.400000000000006],[98.599999999999994],[100.90000000000001],[115.3],[123.59999999999999],[101.2],[103.90000000000001],[108.3],[107.5],[110.09999999999999],[110.5],[102.90000000000001],[100],[103.7],[110.3],[125.09999999999999],[128],[106.8],[113.2],[115.40000000000001]],[[null],[3.6000000000000001],[2.3999999999999999],[-0.80000000000000004],[2.1000000000000001],[3.2999999999999998],[-3],[1.6000000000000001],[-0.40000000000000002],[2.3999999999999999],[3.6000000000000001],[6.9000000000000004],[-14.199999999999999],[-1.8999999999999999],[-3],[-26.100000000000001],[19.699999999999999],[10.5],[1.3999999999999999],[-4.7000000000000002],[3.3999999999999999],[2.2999999999999998],[14.300000000000001],[7.2000000000000002],[-18.100000000000001],[2.7000000000000002],[4.2000000000000002],[-0.69999999999999996],[2.3999999999999999],[0.40000000000000002],[-6.9000000000000004],[-2.7999999999999998],[3.7000000000000002],[6.4000000000000004],[13.4],[2.2999999999999998],[-16.600000000000001],[6],[1.8999999999999999]],[[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[6.0999999999999996],[0.5],[-4.7999999999999998],[-29.199999999999999],[-16.899999999999999],[-11.1],[-7.0999999999999996],[-12.800000000000001],[-9.5],[-9.5999999999999996],[-0.29999999999999999],[0],[-4.5999999999999996],[-0.20000000000000001],[7.2000000000000002],[44.100000000000001],[23.300000000000001],[12],[2.7999999999999998],[4.7999999999999998],[5.2000000000000002],[9.3000000000000007],[8.5],[3.6000000000000001],[5.5],[9],[6.5999999999999996]]]

[]

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Index reference period January 2019 = 100.0

Indicator estimates are produced in current price original and current price calendar adjusted terms. Calendar adjusted estimates account for trading day impacts and length of month. As the indicator time series lengthens, seasonally adjusted estimates will become available. Until such time, it is advised to focus on the through the year movements. Through the year movements measure change in the current month compared to the same month in the previous year.

Through the year spending

Household spending through the year by category, current price, calendar adjusted
	Jan-2022	Feb-2022	Mar-2022
Food	10	7.9	5.3
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	-9.7	-9.7	-16.5
Clothing and footwear	10.7	21.4	15.2
Furnishings and household equipment	-2.2	8.2	10
Health	1.3	2.9	-2.3
Transport	6.9	17.8	12.5
Recreation and culture	13.3	20.4	17.8
Hotels, cafes and restaurants	9.9	16.6	10.4
Miscellaneous goods and services	2.1	0.1	3.1
Total	5.5	9	6.6

["","Jan-2022","Feb-2022","Mar-2022"]

[["Food","Alcoholic beverages and tobacco","Clothing and footwear","Furnishings and household equipment","Health","Transport","Recreation and culture","Hotels, cafes and restaurants","Miscellaneous goods and services","Total"],[[10],[-9.6999999999999993],[10.699999999999999],[-2.2000000000000002],[1.3],[6.9000000000000004],[13.300000000000001],[9.9000000000000004],[2.1000000000000001],[5.5]],[[7.9000000000000004],[-9.6999999999999993],[21.399999999999999],[8.1999999999999993],[2.8999999999999999],[17.800000000000001],[20.399999999999999],[16.600000000000001],[0.10000000000000001],[9]],[[5.2999999999999998],[-16.5],[15.199999999999999],[10],[-2.2999999999999998],[12.5],[17.800000000000001],[10.4],[3.1000000000000001],[6.5999999999999996]]]

[]

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Through the year household spending increased in seven spending categories. The largest increases were in:

recreation and culture (+17.8%)
clothing and footwear (+15.2%)
Transport (+12.5%).

The only categories to show decreases in household spending through the year were:

alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-16.5%)
health (-2.3%).

State and territory spending

State household spending through the year, current price, calendar adjusted
	Jan-2022	Feb-2022	Mar-2022
NSW	4.2	4.8	4.6
Vic.	6.8	14.9	8.5
Qld	5.6	6.3	8.5
SA	3	7.3	5.7
WA	7.8	13.1	4
Tas.	6.4	9	5
NT	3.4	6.3	6.1
ACT	4.6	6.3	6.8

["","Jan-2022","Feb-2022","Mar-2022"]

[["NSW","Vic.","Qld","SA","WA","Tas.","NT","ACT"],[[4.2000000000000002],[6.7999999999999998],[5.5999999999999996],[3],[7.7999999999999998],[6.4000000000000004],[3.3999999999999999],[4.5999999999999996]],[[4.7999999999999998],[14.9],[6.2999999999999998],[7.2999999999999998],[13.1],[9],[6.2999999999999998],[6.2999999999999998]],[[4.5999999999999996],[8.5],[8.5],[5.7000000000000002],[4],[5],[6.0999999999999996],[6.7999999999999998]]]

[]

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Household spending increased through the year for all states and territories. The strongest increases were in:

Victoria (+8.5%)
Queensland (+8.5%).

In Victoria, the strongest household spending categories through the year were:

recreation and culture (+20.3%)
transport (+17.8%)
hotels, cafes and restaurants (+17.6%).

In Queensland, the strongest household spending categories through the year were:

recreation and culture (+22.0%)
clothing and footwear (+21.7%)
transport (+15.4%).

State household spending through the year by category, current price, calendar adjusted (%)
	NSW	Vic.	Qld	SA	WA	Tas.	NT	ACT
Food	5	4.9	7	5.2	5.2	3.9	4	1.1
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	-16.7	-16.5	-13.9	-22	-19	-18.5	-11.5	-7.7
Clothing and footwear	17.8	16.3	21.7	7.7	1.7	7.8	18.2	-23.7
Furnishings and household equipment	6	12	8.1	20.3	9.3	14.6	-10.5	20.8
Health	-4.5	-2.3	5.2	-5.9	-4.6	-11.2	-1.1	1.7
Transport	6.1	17.8	15.4	12.2	9.3	8.9	23.1	22.8
Recreation and culture	13.6	20.3	22	21.1	18.2	17.1	25.5	11.8
Hotels, cafes and restaurants	8.2	17.6	10.8	6.5	2.1	12.2	2.9	12.6
Miscellaneous goods and services	2.5	4.6	1.9	3.9	2	7.7	1.7	1.5
Total	4.6	8.5	8.5	5.7	4	5	6.1	6.8

Data downloads

Download all (620.55 KB)

Monthly Household Spending Indicator Data Cubes

Includes index numbers, monthly percentage changes and through the year percentage changes.

Data files

Table 1. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Australia
Download xlsx [86.47 KB]
Table 2. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, New South Wales
Download xlsx [86.55 KB]
Table 3. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Victoria
Download xlsx [87.49 KB]
Table 4. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Queensland
Download xlsx [87.23 KB]
Table 5. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, South Australia
Download xlsx [87.3 KB]
Table 6. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Western Australia
Download xlsx [87.17 KB]
Table 7. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Tasmania
Download xlsx [87.22 KB]
Table 8. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Northern Territory
Download xlsx [87.41 KB]
Table 9. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Australian Capital Territory
Download xlsx [87.44 KB]

Revisions

Updates to source data and additional processing have resulted in some revisions to the outputs.

The new experimental monthly household spending indicator uses new and innovative methodologies to produce indicators of household spending based on bank transactions data.

The ABS is continuing to assess and refine the monthly household spending indicator methodologies. The ABS will next month incorporate a number of minor technical improvements to the indicator, and publish additional analytical categories. An information paper outlining these changes, and discussing coherence with other ABS estimates will also be published.

The ABS is able to provide technical advice on using the monthly household spending indicator estimates, and its coherence with other ABS estimates such as Monthly Retail Trade and the National Accounts.

The ABS welcomes comments on the usefulness of these estimates. If you would like to provide feedback or request technical advice, please email national.accounts@abs.gov.au.

Acknowledgement

The ABS would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of the participating banks that have enabled the ABS to produce these statistics.

Methodology

Monthly Household Spending Indicator methodology, March 2022

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Monthly Household Spending Indicator

Key statistics

Through the year spending

State and territory spending

Data downloads

Monthly Household Spending Indicator Data Cubes

Table 1. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Australia

Table 2. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, New South Wales

Table 3. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Victoria

Table 4. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Queensland

Table 5. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, South Australia

Table 6. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Western Australia

Table 7. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Tasmania

Table 8. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Northern Territory

Table 9. Experimental estimates of Household Spending, Australian Capital Territory