Household spending in Australia rose 0.3% month-on-month in February 2026, unchanged from January’s pace and marking a second consecutive month of growth. Outlays increased for food (1.0% vs 0.1% in January), clothing and footwear (0.1% vs 0.2%), health (0.2% vs 1.7%), recreation and culture (1.1% vs 0.0%), and hotels, cafes and restaurants (0.4% vs -0.7%).
In contrast, spending declined on alcoholic drinks and tobacco (-0.5% vs -1.8%), furnishings and household equipment (-0.3% vs -0.7%), transport (-0.4% vs 0.2%), and miscellaneous goods and services (-0.3% vs 2.4%).
By region, household expenditure increased in Queensland (0.5%), Victoria (0.4%), South Australia (0.6%), Western Australia (0.9%), the Northern Territory (3.4%), and the Australian Capital Territory (0.2%), while Tasmania recorded a decline (-0.3%).
On an annual basis, household spending rose 4.6%, broadly in line with January’s 4.5%, which had represented the weakest growth since May 2025.
