“A small sigh of relief”; consumer sentiment improves in August

13 August 2024

 

Summary: Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index rises in August; Westpac: consumers relieved as RBA leaves interest rates unchanged, support from tax cuts, other fiscal measures becomes apparent; ACGB yields fall moderately; rate-cut expectations firm; Westpac: rate rise fears subsided noticeably in month; four of five sub-indices rise; more respondents expecting higher jobless rate. After a lengthy divergence between measures of consumer sentiment and business confidence in Australia which began in...

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