Economic snapshot: 4 things to watch this month

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

William Capada's headshot
Graham Cooke's headshot

By

William Capada

&

Graham Cooke

Updated

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 rising home loans, climbing property prices, and increasing credit card spending. To navigate these dynamic trends, it's essential to stay informed. Our latest economic update provides a deep dive into these key indicators, analyzing their causes and exploring the potential ripple effects on your personal finances.

Highlights

  • Credit card spending rose to $40.1 billion in November 2025, up 10.0% year on year, while debit card purchases increased 8.4% to $57.7 billion.
  • Total household spending reached $79.4 billion over the month, including $41.7 billion on goods and $37.7 billion on services.
  • The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%.
  • Median house prices increased by an average of 9.8%, while median unit prices rose 7.7%.

Credit Card and Debit Card Usage Trends

In November 2025, The total value of credit card purchases in Australia reached $40.1 billion, up 10.0% over the year. The number of transactions grew 5.1% to 331.3 million, while the average spend per card reached $3,259.

Debit purchases came in at $57.7 billion, 8.4% higher than a year earlier. Transactions rose 2.8% to 1.0 billion, with the average debit card spend at $1,251.

Monthly Household spending in Australia

According to the ABS, total household spending in Australia reached $79.4 billion, up 6.3% over the year. This included $41.7 billion spent on goods and $37.7 billion on services. Average household spending was $7,941 in November 2025.

Labor Market Overview: Unemployment Rate decreased to 4.1%

In December 2025, the unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, from 4.3% in November. Total employment increased to 14,684,100, supported by a rise of 54,800 full-time positions to 10,101,100, while part-time employment slipped by 10,400 to 4,582,900. The underemployment rate also edged lower to 5.7%.

House and Unit Prices

As of October 2025, median house prices have risen by an average of 9.8%, while median unit prices have recorded an increase of 7.7%.

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.

William Capada's headshot
Written by

Insights Analyst

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 3 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 58 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

Get rewarded $$ for switching with Finder Rewards

Find a better deal, save on your bills and get a free gift card. Sign up to be the first to hear about new Finder Rewards.

Ask a question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

More guides on Finder

Go to site