According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), household spending rose 1.6 percent in March 2026, compared with a 0.3 percent increase in February and 0.2 percent in January. Nominal spending was 6.3 percent higher than March 2025. Tom Lay, ABS head of business statistics, said the March rise was driven by a 5.1 percent increase in transport costs as fuel prices climbed amid Middle East tensions. Fuel prices spiked in early March, prompting motorists to make smaller, more frequent trips. Public‑transport spending also increased, suggesting some households switched from private vehicles. Food spending rose 1.7 percent due to higher prices and precautionary stockpiling. ABS has used the CPI to estimate a 1.3 percent drop in fuel volumes for March, reflecting a 32.8 percent price rise.
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This article is a summary of content originally published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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