Australian household spending rose 0.3% in February 2026, reaching $79.1 billion at current prices, according to the Bureau of Statistics. The increase, the first of the month, also represents a 4.6% rise over February 2025. Spending on goods grew 0.1% and on services 0.5%, with notable gains in recreation and culture, food, and hotels, cafés and restaurants. Discretionary spending increased 0.5% while non‑discretionary spending held steady, though motoring and health services fell and food and transport rose. State‑level data show six of eight regions reported gains, led by the Northern Territory (+3.4%), Western Australia (+0.9%) and South Australia (+0.6%). The estimates are seasonally adjusted and derived from bank card transaction data. These figures offer a snapshot of consumer behaviour for the month.
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This article is a summary of content originally published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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