Monthly Household Spending Indicator

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Experimental estimates of household spending

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Reference period
June 2024
Released
2/08/2024
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Key statistics

In June 2024:

  • Household spending fell 0.5% month-on-month on a current price, seasonally adjusted basis. 
  • In volume terms, the original estimate rose 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. 

Enhancements to the Monthly Household Spending Indicator

A media statement on Thursday 23 November 2023 announced that the ABS would be enhancing the Monthly Household Spending Indicator (MHSI) in 2024, and ceasing the Retail Trade publication after the June 2025 reference period. A number of changes have taken effect in this month's publication. For more information, please see Changes to current release below or visit the Future cessation of the Retail Business Survey and Retail Trade Publication webpage.

Total Household Spending

Household spending at current prices
 Jun-24 ($ millions)May-2024 to Jun-2024 (% change)Jun-2023 to Jun-2024 (% change)
Original69,910.3-2.62.2
Seasonally Adjusted70,812.0-0.53.1
Trend70,861.50.13.5

Goods and services spending

In seasonally adjusted, current price terms household spending on goods rose 0.5% month-on-month, driven by increased spending on purchase of vehicles, goods for recreation and culture, and furniture, floor covering and household goods. 

In seasonally adjusted, current price terms household spending on services fell 1.8% month-on-month, driven by decreased spending on recreational and cultural services, accommodation services, and catering services.

Discretionary and non-discretionary spending

In seasonally adjusted, current price terms, discretionary spending fell 0.5% month-on-month, driven by decreased spending on recreational and cultural services, accommodation services, and catering services.

In seasonally adjusted, current price terms, non-discretionary spending fell 0.4% month-on-month, driven by decreased spending on motor vehicle repair, maintenance and miscellaneous expenditure, and food.

Household Spending by category

In calendar adjusted, current price terms household spending increased through the year for eight of the nine spending categories. The largest increases were in:

  • miscellaneous goods and services (+10.8%)
  • health (+7.8%)
  • furnishings and household equipment (+6.6%).

State and territory spending

In calendar adjusted, current price terms, household spending increased through the year for all states and territories. The strongest increases were in:

  • Western Australia (+6.8%)
  • Queensland (+5.6%)
  • Australian Capital Territory (+5.6%).

In Western Australia, the strongest household spending categories through the year were:

  • miscellaneous goods and services (+11.4%)
  • furnishings and household equipment (+9.4%)
  • recreation and culture (+7.6%).

In Queensland, the strongest household spending categories through the year were:

  • miscellaneous goods and services (+9.9%)
  • furnishings and household equipment (+8.2%)
  • health (+7.1%).

In the Australian Capital Territory, the strongest household spending categories through the year were:

  • miscellaneous goods and services (+12.7%)
  • transport (+7.3%)
  • hotels, cafes and restaurants (+5.9%).
State household spending through the year by category, current price, calendar adjusted (%)
 NSWVic.QldSAWATas.NTACT
Food4.74.95.24.75.84.91.75.6
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco-8.3-7.8-4.8-6.31.2-3.4-6.81.2
Clothing and footwear2.92.63.66.62.63.73.44.6
Furnishings and household equipment6.35.08.25.79.46.48.82.7
Health9.48.57.16.05.79.1-4.12.4
Transport0.64.25.32.96.86.34.37.3
Recreation and culture5.94.15.68.97.66.33.82.0
Hotels, cafes and restaurants9.16.45.21.96.8-9.02.65.9
Miscellaneous goods and services10.912.79.96.811.49.910.212.7
Total5.05.15.64.56.83.53.75.6

 

State household spending through the year by goods/services, current price, calendar adjusted (%)
 NSWVic.QldSAWATas.NTACT
Goods5.35.05.54.56.44.93.14.9
Services4.78.06.03.97.60.64.16.6
State household discretionary/non-discretionary spending, through the year, current price, calendar adjusted (%)
 NSWVic.QldSAWATas.NTACT
Discretionary7.24.94.64.67.01.94.46.5
Non Discretionary2.96.26.14.77.35.61.74.6

Quarterly Household Spending

In original, volume terms household spending increased through the year for six of the nine spending categories. The largest increases were in:

  • furnishings and household equipment (+6.7%)
  • miscellaneous goods and services (+4.9%)
  • health (+3.6%).

In original, volume terms household spending increased through the year for six states and territories. The strongest increases were in:

  • Western Australia (+4.5%)
  • Queensland (+2.8%)
  • South Australia (+2.1%).

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Monthly Household Spending Indicator Data Cubes

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Data Explorer datasets

Caution: Data in Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check the reference period when using Data Explorer.

For more information about Data Explorer, see the Data Explorer user guide.

Monthly Household Spending Indicator - Monthly and quarterly percentage changes and household spending estimates, January 2019 onward

Changes to current release

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has collaborated with key data users to enhance the Monthly Household Spending Indicator (MHSI) and better address their needs.  Based on user feedback, the MHSI has been enhanced in this current release.  These improvements provide a more comprehensive view of household consumption, including:

  • Moving to a ‘household consumption’ concept bringing MHSI closer to its predominant use. This includes updates to MHSI methods and data sources.
  • Monthly seasonally adjusted estimates at the national-level for total spending and the four analytical series (Goods, Services, Discretionary and Non-Discretionary).
  • Quarterly chain volume measures for the nine currently published COICOP categories, by State/territory.
  • Dollar levels for all series.

Alongside this release, we have provided comprehensive details regarding the methodology to generate the estimates

Prior to Retail Trade ceasing, the ABS will continue to work with partners and stakeholders to further enhance the MHSI and provide users with suitable timely data to support their needs. More Information about this transition can be found on the Future cessation of the Retail Business Survey and Retail Trade Publication webpage or through contacting us at household.spending@abs.gov.au.

Acknowledgement

The ABS would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of the participating banks that have enabled the ABS to produce these statistics.

Methodology

Scope

  • Final consumption of goods and services by Australian households
  • Guided by the UNSD's COICOP classification and aligned with National Accounts HFCE categories and concepts 

Geography

Data is available for:

  • Australia Total
  • States and territories.

Source

Aggregated, de-identified bank card transactions data provided to the ABS from participating banks. Also collected are supermarket transactions and Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) VFACTS data

Collection method

Participating banks send transactions data soon after the end of each calendar month. Supermarkets send weekly transactions files, and VFACTS is received as a monthly delivery from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries

Concepts, sources and methods

Household consumption is categorised to COICOP Divisions. Outputs from 9 COICOPs and all states are published. Data is benchmarked to annual HFCE and adjusted using public RBA data to cover data gaps in cash spending and non-participating banks

History of changes

Not applicable for this release.

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