Total household wealth surged 3.3% in the December 2019 quarter to a record high of $11,309 billion, driven by holding gains on residential real estate according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

This marks the strongest holding gain on residential real estate since December 2009.

ABS Chief Economist Bruce Hockman said the results reflect the bounce back in house prices.

"Residential real estate posted another quarter of strong real holding gains, reflecting a 3.9% rise in residential property prices in the December quarter 2019," he said.

Want to earn a fixed interest rate on your cash? The table below features term deposits with some of the highest interest rates on the market for a six-month term.

Provider

At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]25000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

Term Deposit - 6 months

    At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Personal Term Deposits - 6 months

      At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Term Deposits - 6 months

        At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Fixed Term Deposit - 6 months

          At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          ME Bank Term Deposit - 6 months

            At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Term Deposit - 6 months

              Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

              All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of December 21, 2024. View disclaimer.

              Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

              Mr Hockman said other financial assets were also behind the rise.

              "The value of household financial assets including shares and holdings in superannuation funds had a modest increase of 1.5%, reflecting the smaller holding gains on financial assets," he said.

              "While holdings in superannuation funds are at a high of 55.7% of total household financial assets, the share of deposits remains at a nine year low of 19.4%.

              "The long term decline in deposits as a proportion of financial assets is in line with record low interest rates, which recorded a total cash rate cut of 75 basis points from June through to December quarter 2019."

              Average household wealth increased by $12,809 to $442,705 per person - the highest on record.

              Household wealth grew 10.2% through the year, with household wealth per person increasing 8.6% through the year compared to population growth of 1.5%.

              While the ABS said there was "no notable impact" on the statistics from the recent bushfires, the situation will look different at the end of March 2020 due to the unfolding coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.