Australia Consumer Confidence MoM

Australia's Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index fell by 6.0% mom to a six-month low of 90.1 in April 2025, reversing a 0.4% increase in the prior month and marking the first drop since January. The ‘family finances vs a year ago’ tumbled 8.5% to 70.2, as did family finances for the next 12 months (-6.2%) to 101.6. Moreover, consumers' views on economic conditions for the next 12 months plunged 5.7% to 90.5, and their assessment for the next 5 years slipped 3.0% to 98.4. Meanwhile, the ‘time to buy a major item’ dipped 7.3% to 90.0. Unemployment expectations rose 5.1% to 122.9, below its long-run average of 129. The latest result highlighted deepening unease among households about global development, particularly the ‘reciprocal tariffs’ launched by US President Trump. "With a sell-off in global financial markets persisting, there is a clear risk of more significant sentiment declines in the months ahead," said Mathew Hassan, head of Australian Macro-Forecasting.