Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises 6% to 88.9 as RBA Decision Lifts Housing Mood
Updated
Updated · Capital Brief · Aug 18
Australia Consumer Sentiment Rises 6% to 88.9 as RBA Decision Lifts Housing Mood
3 articles · Updated · Capital Brief · Aug 18
Summary
Westpac-Melbourne Institute’s consumer sentiment index climbed 6% to 88.9 in August from 83.9, with responses after the RBA’s Aug. 11 decision driving much of the gain.
Mortgage holders led the improvement and renters also felt better after the meeting, reflecting a more benign interest-rate outlook, though pessimists still outnumbered optimists, especially on current finances.
Housing sentiment improved but stayed weak overall: the “time to buy a dwelling” index jumped 12.1% to 95.7, its highest since November 2025, still below the long-run average of 119.
House-price expectations fell to a fresh three-year low of 110.8 across most states, with outright homeowners notably weaker; Westpac said softer price expectations may also be weighing on renters’ homeownership outlook.