Tag: Consumer Sentiment

Despite improving conditions in the global economy local consumer confidence has fallen, as households remain concerned about the state of their own finances.

Australia has the highest consumer confidence of all developed nations, a new survey has found, with optimism increasing locally for the first time since July 2010.

Businesses have welcomed news of a surprise jump in consumer sentiment, as the number of optimists outweighs the number of pessimists for the first time in some months.

Opposition spokesperson Senator Scott Ryan on how the Federal Government has failed small business:

“Small businesses comprise 96 percent of all Australian enterprises. It is a sector that is only ignored at our greater peril, yet it is one to which this Labor Government has refused to listen.”

Consumer sentiment has jumped 6.3 percent this month, thanks largely to the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates.

More bad news for businesses has been spelt out today, with the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment for August falling to levels not seen since May 2009.

Consumer sentiment fell 8.3 percent in July, to levels not seen since May 2009, thanks to uncertainty about the carbon tax, concerns over the European financial crisis and the ongoing impact of seven rate rises between October 2009 and November 2010.

With the Federal Government’s $900 cash bonus – part of the $42 billion stimulus package – hitting consumer bank accounts today, research conducted by the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) has shown that people are divided on whether to spend the money or save it. The ANRA consumer sentiment survey has shown that 22 percent […]

Small businesses are increasingly turning to suburban accounting and legal firms for advice on insolvency and bankruptcy issues as the economic crisis takes hold. A survey conducted by Deloitte of Black Inc. Members (network providing specialist accounting and financial service advice) has found that 80 percent of clients of suburban accounting and legal firms are […]