Household spending rose 0.6 per cent in September 2026, according to seasonally adjusted figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
This follows a fall of -0.1 per cent in August and a rise of 1.0 per cent in July.
Tom Lay, ABS head of business statistics said: "Household spending rose across essential and discretionary categories, with both Transport and Health rising by 1.5 per cent and Recreation and culture rising by 0.8 per cent".
"The rise in Transport reflected higher spending on fuel, vehicle repairs and maintenance, and domestic air travel as people travelled to attend major sporting events."
Fuel spending rose 5.4 per cent in September, reflecting higher global oil prices and the end of the fuel excise relief on 3 August.
Experimental data produced by the ABS suggests that the volume of fuel spending fell by 2.2 per cent in September. This followed a 0.6 per cent fall in August.
Health spending rose because of higher spending on GP visits, dental and optometric services, as well as pharmaceutical and toiletry goods.
"It's likely that the late flu activity added to higher health spending in September, driving greater demand for GP consultations and medicines," Mr Lay said.
The rise in Recreation and culture came from several categories in September.
"Households spent more on performing arts and other live entertainment, electronic goods and gambling likely supported by major sporting events," Mr Lay said.
Some of the rise in spending on performing arts and live entertainment reflect advanced purchases of tickets for future performances. In the household spending indicator this activity is recorded as spending at the point of payment rather than when the service is consumed.
| Jul-2026 (%) | Aug-2026 (%) | Sep-2026 (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food | 0.9 | -0.5 | -0.1 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 1.2 | -1.3 | -0.7 |
| Clothing and footwear | 1.4 | -1.1 | 0.1 |
| Furnishings and household equipment | 0.1 | -0.7 | -0.2 |
| Health | 1.3 | -0.7 | 1.5 |
| Transport | 0.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 |
| Recreation and culture | 1.8 | -1.7 | 0.8 |
| Hotels, cafes and restaurants | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| Total | 1.0 | -0.1 | 0.6 |
"Household spending volumes continued to grow in the September quarter, marking the fourth quarter in a row of growth. Seven of the nine spending categories recorded increases, with Transport recording the strongest growth," Mr Lay said.
Transport spending rose 1.6 per cent, driving the quarterly increase in household spending volumes. This rise was led by higher spending on air travel, following a subdued 0.1 per cent increase in total transport spending in the June quarter, when the Middle East conflict contributed to lower air travel spending.
