Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows household spending fell 1.1 percent in April 2026, a decline from a 1.6 percent rise in March and a 0.3 percent rise in February. The drop is attributed to a 4.7 percent decline in transport costs, driven mainly by lower air transport spending as households cut travel amid Middle East conflict uncertainties and higher airfares. Air travel reductions were partly offset by a 2.0 percent increase in fuel spending, supported by a federal government halving fuel excise duty from 1 April. Other factors include a rise in electric vehicle sales, a 1.3 percent fall in food spending, and easing public‑transport costs in states with free travel. Annual household spending rose 4.9 percent year‑on‑year, down from a 6.2 percent rise in March.
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This article is a summary of content originally published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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