Household spending on health was 15.7 per cent higher than a year ago, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Robert Ewing, ABS head of business statistics, said: “Spending on health made the largest contribution to the overall 3.4 per cent rise in household spending in April.
“We saw a 5.8 per cent rise in spending on non-discretionary goods and services, with households also spending more on fuel and food.
“In contrast, discretionary spending rose 0.6 per cent over the year as households continue to limit their spending on non-essentials.”
| Nov-23 (%) | Dec-23 (%) | Jan-24 (%) | Feb-24 (%) | Mar-24 (%) | Apr-24 (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary | 1.0 | -0.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.6 |
| Non Discretionary | 6.8 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 8.5 | 5.0 | 5.8 |
| Total | 3.9 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 2.7 | 3.4 |
As well as higher spending on health, the overall rise in household spending was driven by increases in the miscellaneous goods and services category (+12.9 per cent) which includes child care, professional services and personal care; and in the furnishings and household equipment category (+6.4 per cent).
The annual growth rates in these categories were impacted by the earlier timing of Easter in 2024, as there were fewer public holidays in April 2024 compared to April 2023.
Compared to the same time last year, household spending rose in all states and territories except the Australian Capital Territory. The largest rises in spending were seen in the Northern Territory, up 7.1 per cent, and Tasmania, up 6.1 per cent.
| Feb-2024 (%) | Mar-2024 (%) | Apr-2024 (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 3.7 | 1.8 | 3.0 |
| Vic. | 4.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Qld | 6.0 | 3.2 | 4.0 |
| SA | 6.1 | 2.9 | 3.9 |
| WA | 5.4 | 3.6 | 4.2 |
| Tas. | 4.4 | 2.4 | 6.1 |
| NT | 8.3 | 4.1 | 7.1 |
| ACT | 5.6 | 1.5 | -0.2 |
