Social distancing, sourdough making and panic buying – the COVID-19 pandemic changed the lifestyle and behaviour of Australians in many ways. Ongoing restrictions, border closures and virus outbreaks made Aussies reluctant to do everyday activities like shopping and travel.
Finder's COVID Comfort Indicator measured how comfortable Australians felt doing everyday activities while in the midst of the pandemic. Each month, Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker asked respondents how comfortable they felt doing the following:
- Travelling overseas
- Travelling domestically
- Going to the gym
- Going to the cinema
- Taking public transport
- Taking a taxi or Uber
- Going to sporting events
- Going to a music concert or live play
Comfort was ranked on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is not comfortable at all and 10 is extremely comfortable.
COVID Comfort Indicator by activity
The data shows Australians were most comfortable with domestic travel and attending cinemas. Taking a taxi or Uber and taking public transport came in third and fourth place. Going to sporting events, the gym, and music concerts or live plays follow closely.
International travel was the activity Australians felt the least comfortable with since December 2020. Many Australians were forced to cancel holidays due to the pandemic. However with the opening of Australia's international borders, the level of comfort Australians have with overseas travel is creeping up.
COVID Comfort Indicator by state
Between December 2020 and February 2022, Western Australia maintained the highest level of overall comfort, with an average index rating of 4.70 out of 10. New South Wales had the lowest ranking overall, with an average of 4.18 since December 2020.
In most states, overall comfort peaked between March and May and dropped between June and August 2021.
New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland hit their lowest level of comfort in August. Western Australia and South Australia, which were relatively sheltered from virus outbreaks and lockdowns at the height of the pandemic, both hit their lowest level of comfort in January 2022.
COVID Comfort Indicator (December 2020 - February 2022 average)
NSW | VIC | QLD | SA | WA | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travelling overseas | 2.85 | 3.05 | 2.69 | 2.36 | 2.47 |
Travelling domestically | 4.96 | 5.11 | 5.01 | 4.67 | 4.46 |
Going to the gym | 4.05 | 4.49 | 4.60 | 4.35 | 4.86 |
Going to the cinemas | 4.56 | 5.01 | 5.19 | 5.16 | 5.48 |
Going to sporting events | 4.04 | 4.42 | 4.36 | 4.45 | 4.84 |
Going to a music concert / live play | 3.93 | 4.30 | 4.31 | 4.29 | 4.71 |
Taking public transport | 4.58 | 4.65 | 4.79 | 4.40 | 5.37 |
Taking a taxi / Uber | 4.50 | 4.72 | 4.97 | 4.78 | 5.42 |
New South Wales
Those from New South Wales reached their highest level of comfort in March 2021. Across all activities, the indicator reached 5.18 out of 10. In August 2021, the indicator hit its lowest point since December 2020, at 2.91.
Victoria
Victorians report relatively high levels of comfort when the state was not in lockdown. In April 2021, the indicator peaked at an average of 5.36 out of 10. The indicator fell to 3.95 in June as the state entered its fourth lockdown. Victoria had one of the most volatile COVID Comfort Indicator scores over time.
Queensland
The COVID Comfort Indicator in Queensland peaked in March 2021, with an average ranking of 6.0 out of 10. Due to multiple snap lockdowns, Queensland's COVID Comfort Indicator is relatively volatile, hitting a low of 3.27 out of 10 in August 2021.
South Australia
The COVID Comfort Indicator was the least volatile in South Australia. Interestingly, South Australia had the second-lowest comfort ranking, with an average of 4.31. Going to the cinema is the activity South Australians felt most comfortable with, ranking 5.16 out of 10 on average since December 2020.
Western Australia
Western Australians had the highest average level of comfort with all activities except domestic and international travel since December 2020. Going to the cinemas (5.48) and taking a taxi or Uber (5.42) were the activities they felt most at ease with on average. The COVID Comfort Indicator peaked in April, with a ranking of 5.51 out of 10 across all activities.
Methodology
- Data was obtained from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker, an ongoing nationally representative survey of 1,000 Australians each month.
- The survey asks respondents to rank their level of comfort with each activity on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being not comfortable at all and 10 being extremely comfortable.
- Due to small sample sizes, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have been excluded from state-by-state comparisons but are included in the overall indicator.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics, an SAP company.
More guides on Finder
-
Finder’s Economic Positivity Index
Tracking the outlook of Finder's panel of economic experts.
-
Finder Consumer Positivity Index
Tracking how Australian consumers feel about the economy and their financial lives.
-
Finder’s Property Investment Index Hobart
Finder's Property Investment Index predicts price growth in each suburb across Australia's major cities. Find out how your suburb stacks up.
-
Finder’s Property Investment Index Adelaide
Finder's Property Investment Index predicts price growth in each suburb across Australia's major cities. Find out how your suburb stacks up.
-
Finder’s Property Investment Index Perth
Finder's Property Investment Index predicts price growth in each suburb across Australia's major cities.
-
Finder’s Property Investment Index Brisbane
Finder's Property Investment Index predicts price growth in each suburb across Australia's major cities.
-
Finder’s Property Investment Index Sydney
Finder's Property Investment Index predicts price growth in each suburb across Australia's major cities.
-
Finder’s Property Investment Index Melbourne
Finder's Property Investment Index predicts price growth in each suburb across Australia's major cities. Find out how your suburb stacks up.
-
Financial peer pressure
Financial peer pressure is not uncommon. Finder revealed 6.3 million Australians have gone into debt or overspent to keep up with friends.
-
Renters vs homeowners
We found renters are less happy and more stressed than homeowners. How are renters faring when it comes to happiness, wealth and finances?
Ask a question