Household spending continued to rise in January 2022

Media Release

Released

22/03/2022

Source

Monthly Household Spending Indicator, January 2022

Household spending increased by 4.3 per cent in January 2022 when compared with January 2021 in current price, calendar adjusted terms, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Jacqui Vitas, head of Macroeconomic Statistics at the ABS, said the rises were led by spending on recreation and culture (11.3 per cent) and food (9.7 per cent).

“Household Spending increased in seven of the nine spending categories in January 2022 when compared to January 2021. The only categories with decreased spending compared with January 2021 were on alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-10.6 per cent) and furnishings and household equipment (-4.0 per cent).

“Eased COVID-19 restrictions in January 2022 across most states saw consumers shift spending from their homes to hospitality and retail venues,” Ms Vitas said.

The Northern Territory (-2.4 per cent) was the only state or territory with a decrease in household spending in January 2022 when compared with January 2021. It should be noted that the Northern Territory was the only jurisdiction with imposed lockdown restrictions during the month of January 2022.

Western Australia (7.1 per cent) recorded the largest increase in household spending through the year.

When comparing January 2022 to pre-pandemic January 2020 estimates, total household spending decreased 0.6% in current price, calendar adjusted terms. Transport (down 25.7 per cent) and hotels, cafes and restaurants (down 11.7 per cent) remain well below pre-pandemic levels.

Household spending, current price, calendar adjusted
	Index	Through the year
Jan-19	100
Feb-19	103.6
Mar-19	106.2
Apr-19	105.4
May-19	107.5
Jun-19	111.1
Jul-19	107.8
Aug-19	109.4
Sep-19	109
Oct-19	111.7
Nov-19	115.6
Dec-19	123.6
Jan-20	106.2	6.2
Feb-20	104.2	0.6
Mar-20	101	-4.9
Apr-20	74.6	-29.2
May-20	89.6	-16.7
Jun-20	98.5	-11.3
Jul-20	100.2	-7.1
Aug-20	95.3	-12.9
Sep-20	98.8	-9.4
Oct-20	101.3	-9.3
Nov-20	115.3	-0.3
Dec-20	123.4	-0.2
Jan-21	101.2	-4.7
Feb-21	104	-0.2
Mar-21	108.3	7.2
Apr-21	107.4	44
May-21	110.2	23
Jun-21	110.7	12.4
Jul-21	102.8	2.6
Aug-21	100	4.9
Sep-21	104	5.3
Oct-21	110.7	9.3
Nov-21	125	8.4
Dec-21	127.8	3.6
Jan-22	105.6	4.3

Household spending, current price, calendar adjusted

["","Index","Through the year"]

[["Jan-19","Feb-19","Mar-19","Apr-19","May-19","Jun-19","Jul-19","Aug-19","Sep-19","Oct-19","Nov-19","Dec-19","Jan-20","Feb-20","Mar-20","Apr-20","May-20","Jun-20","Jul-20","Aug-20","Sep-20","Oct-20","Nov-20","Dec-20","Jan-21","Feb-21","Mar-21","Apr-21","May-21","Jun-21","Jul-21","Aug-21","Sep-21","Oct-21","Nov-21","Dec-21","Jan-22"],[[100],[103.59999999999999],[106.2],[105.40000000000001],[107.5],[111.09999999999999],[107.8],[109.40000000000001],[109],[111.7],[115.59999999999999],[123.59999999999999],[106.2],[104.2],[101],[74.599999999999994],[89.599999999999994],[98.5],[100.2],[95.299999999999997],[98.799999999999997],[101.3],[115.3],[123.40000000000001],[101.2],[104],[108.3],[107.40000000000001],[110.2],[110.7],[102.8],[100],[104],[110.7],[125],[127.8],[105.59999999999999]],[[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[6.2000000000000002],[0.59999999999999998],[-4.9000000000000004],[-29.199999999999999],[-16.699999999999999],[-11.300000000000001],[-7.0999999999999996],[-12.9],[-9.4000000000000004],[-9.3000000000000007],[-0.29999999999999999],[-0.20000000000000001],[-4.7000000000000002],[-0.20000000000000001],[7.2000000000000002],[44],[23],[12.4],[2.6000000000000001],[4.9000000000000004],[5.2999999999999998],[9.3000000000000007],[8.4000000000000004],[3.6000000000000001],[4.2999999999999998]]]

[]

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The bar graph graph shows the through the year percentage changes for total household spending in current price and calendar adjusted terms. The line graph shows the index numbers for total household spending in current price and calendar adjusted terms and is indexed to January 2019.

Media notes

The indicator is produced using aggregated and de-identified card and bank transactions from several banking and financial institutions.
The indicator includes 9 of the 13 key divisions classified according to the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP).
The indicator is produced in current price original and current price calendar adjusted terms only.
Until the indicator is seasonally adjusted it is advised to focus on through the year (e.g. January 2022 compared to January 2021) comparisons.
Care should be given when comparing Household Spending Indicator estimates with other ABS products.
When reporting ABS data you must attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.
For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Media Team via media@abs.gov.au (8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri).
Subscribe to our media release notification service to get notified of ABS media releases or publications upon their release.

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Household spending continued to rise in January 2022

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