Westpac-MI Consumer Sentiment in Australia

Monthly index measuring Australian households' optimism about their finances, the economy and major purchases. A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists.

Survey of about 1,200 adults run by the Melbourne Institute and sponsored by Westpac. The index combines five components; both the level and its monthly percent change are published.

Leads household spending, the main driver of Australian GDP. Sustained falls point to weaker consumption; markets and the RBA watch it as a demand gauge.

Sentiment survey, volatile and headline-sensitive (energy prices, interest rates). Component detail is subscription-only; only the headline is free.