Economic snapshot: 4 things to watch this month

Get up to speed with the latest economic update, offering insights into Australia's financial landscape.

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By

William Capada

&

Graham Cooke

Updated

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Australia's economic landscape is in a state of flux. Data from Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker (CST), the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), and CoreLogic (now called Cotality) reveals how spending, jobs and the property market are shifting. To navigate these dynamic trends, it's essential to stay informed. Our latest economic update provides a deep dive into these key indicators, analysing their causes and exploring the potential ripple effects on your personal finances.

Highlights

  • Credit card spending reached $41.2 billion, up 5.8% over the year, while debit card spending reached $61.3 billion, up 13.4% year earlier.
  • Household spending reached $82.3 billion in August 2026, up 6.8% compared with a year earlier, or $8,239 per household.
  • The unemployment rate remained at 4.7%.
  • Median asking rents for houses rose by an average of 9.1% over the past year, while median asking rents for units rose by 5.2%.

Credit Card and Debit Card Usage Trends

In August 2026, the total value of credit card purchases in Australia reached $41.2 billion, up 5.8% over the year. Australians made 338.8 million purchases, 4.1% more than a year ago. The average spend per card was $3,390.

Debit purchases reached $61.3 billion, up 13.4% over the year. Australians made 1.1 billion purchases, and the average debit card spend was $1,278.

Monthly Household spending in Australia

According to the ABS, total household spending in Australia reached $82.3 billion in August 2026, up 6.8% compared with a year earlier. This included $43.3 billion spent on goods, up 7.7% year on year, and $39.0 billion on services, up 5.9% year on year. Average household spending was $8,239 in August 2026.

Labour Overview: Unemployment rate remained at 4.7%

The unemployment rate remained at 4.7% in September 2026, unchanged from previous month.

House and Unit Prices

As of July 2026, median house prices across Australia's capital cities rose by a weighted average of 9.1% over the past year, while median unit prices increased by a weighted average of 5.2%

For those considering purchasing a property, here's a snapshot of the average prices of houses and units across different capital cities, along with the corresponding 20% deposit, monthly repayment based on 80% of the average price, and the required household income to stay below mortgage stress level (30%).

For deeper dives into the numbers shaping Australia's economy, don't miss Finder's Insights Hub. Discover a wealth of statistics, consumer research, and expert commentary – your go-to source for understanding the financial landscape.
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Written by

Insights Analyst
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William Capada is an insights analyst at Finder. With years of experience as an analyst, he has honed his skills in analysing complex datasets and extracting actionable insights. Proficient in various analytical tools, he has a proven track record of delivering meaningful insights that drive strategic decision-making. William conducts research related to economic data and is also responsible for updating the insights statistics pages. He also assists in ensuring that the scoring makes sense for the Finder Retail Awards. See full bio

William's expertise
William has written 5 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Visualization
  • Retail Awards
Graham Cooke's headshot
Co-written by

Head of Consumer Research

Graham Cooke is Finder’s Head of Consumer Research, overseeing data analysis on consumer spending and saving habits. He is a passionate advocate for financial literacy and consumer rights, regularly appearing on major TV networks like ABC News and 7 News, and contributing to top outlets like Yahoo Finance and Money Magazine. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Physics, as well as Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146) that comply with ASIC standards. See full bio

Graham's expertise
Graham has written 49 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Home loans and the housing market
  • Credit cards & personal finance
  • Finder Awards
  • Retail economics & FMCG
  • Travel
  • Finder's RBA Cash Rate Survey, Consumer Sentiment Tracker, Cost of Living Pressure Gauge and Property Investment Index

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