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2026-09-01 23:34 UTC → 2026-09-04 04:24 UTC ·
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Consumer Australian consumer spending trends in Australia have shown varying patterns across different retail periods. resilience despite cost-of-living pressures. During Father’s Day 2025, spending in Australia reached over $656 million, characterized by a 25.8 percent surge in newsagents and book retailers, a 19.2 percent increase in takeaway alcohol, and a 13.4 percent rise in spending at cafes and restaurants. Overall, Australian consumer spending reached $175 billion during the summer 2025/26 season, representing total spending reached $175 billion, a $9 billion increase from the previous year. Discretionary spending totaled accounted for $91 billion, with notable growth driven largely by a 30 percent rise in long-distance road trips and theme park visits, which rose by 30 percent. visits and long-distance road trips. Other significant economic major contributors included $9.5 billion in spending during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and $2.8 billion from the Australian Open. Specific seasonal events have also driven significant activity. Father’s Day 2025 spending exceeded $656 million, with notable surges in newsagents and book retailers (25.8 percent), takeaway alcohol (19.2 percent), and cafes and restaurants (13.4 percent). Looking ahead, research from the Australian Retail Council and Roy Morgan projects Father’s Day spending to reach approximately $730 million, a 1.4 percent increase over the previous year. While the number of shoppers is expected to rise to 5.5 million people, the average intended spend per person is projected to decline by 6.9 percent, from $145 to $135. Fleur Brown, ARC chief industry engagement officer, noted that while more Australians plan to purchase gifts, the decrease in individual budgets suggests consumers are “prioritizing value due to ongoing pressure on household finances.”