The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Confidence index continued its trend of marginal falls in January, dropping 2.1% from 104.3 reported in December to 102.2.
A score over 100 generally implies Australian consumers remain confident about the economy and their finances.
Westpac Chief Economist Bill Evans said this is a surprisingly solid result given the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID variant over the past month.
"The 2% decline compares to the 5.2% drop seen in the first month of the delta outbreak in NSW, a 6.1% drop heading into Victoria’s ‘second wave’ outbreak in 2020 and the epic 17.7% collapse when the pandemic first hit in early 2020," Mr Evans said.
Consumer confidence increased in NSW (up 1.7%) and Victoria (up 4.1%), while posted significant falls in Queensland down 2.7%, Western Australia down 5.1% and South Australia down 3.9%.
Mr Evans puts this down to consumers in states impacted by ‘delta’ lockdowns appearing to be less unsettled by the rapid spread of the omicron variant than those in states experiencing their first major wave of COVID infections.
Where concern lies most prominent is Australian consumers outlook of their finances, with the ‘finances, next 12 months’ sub-index more pessimistic, falling 2.8% to 108.1.
"Nervousness would be consistent with the sharp deterioration in the economic outlook but may also reflect shifting expectations for interest rates," Mr Evans said.
Yet Australian consumers reported significant improvements in their finances relative to a year ago, with the sub-index lifting by 7.5% to 95.6, a nine-month high.
"That likely reflects a combination of improving incomes – particularly as labour markets rebound – wealth gains from a resurgent housing market and the accumulation of significant ‘reserves’ due to very high savings rates during lockdowns over the last two years," Mr Evans said.
ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence records worst January result for 30 years
ANZ-Roy Morgan Weekly Consumer Confidence Index declined 7.6% last week, dropping to its lowest level since October 2020.
All ANZ-Roy Morgan sub-indices registered losses with ‘current financial conditions’ dropping 11.3% and ‘future financial conditions’ falling 4.3%.
ANZ Head of Economics David Plank said confidence is now below the neutral level of 100 for all states and it is also lower than the level during the Delta surge.
"Consumer confidence readings are usually positive during the month of January and the level of 97.9 is the weakest January result since 1992, when the Australian economy was experiencing sharply rising unemployment," Mr Plank said.
"We don’t think the economy is as weak as these data might suggest, with the shock of the Omicron surge and strains on testing capability the key drivers of the fall rather than underlying economic conditions."
Image by Mick Haupt via Unsplash.
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