Household spending rises 0.3 percent in Australia during February

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Household spending in Australia edged up by 0.3% in February 2026, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This follows a similar 0.3% increase in January, after a 0.5% drop in December. Compared to a year earlier, overall spending remains strong, rising 4.6%.

Spending on non-essential items grew by 0.5%, driven by higher demand for entertainment such as concerts and musicals, along with increased bookings for flights and accommodation. Some of this reflects early ticket purchases for future events.

Essential spending also increased, with food costs rising by 1.0%, adding to overall household expenses.

However, transport spending fell by 0.4%, mainly due to lower fuel prices during the month, which helped ease costs for households.

Across the country, spending increased in six of the eight states and territories. The Northern Territory recorded the strongest growth at 3.4%, while Western Australia saw the largest rise in total spending. South Australia also posted a modest gain of 0.6%.

Tasmania was the only state to record a decline, with spending slipping by 0.3%.

Overall, the data shows steady consumer activity, with both essential and discretionary spending contributing to growth.

Source : MirangeNews

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