SYDNEY: A measure of Australian consumer sentiment surged to an 11-year peak in April as strength in family finances and optimism on the economy easily outweighed an unwelcome faltering in the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines.
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment released on Wednesday jumped 6.2% in April, the third straight month of gains.
That left the index up a huge 57% on April last year when coronavirus lockdowns sent confidence crashing. The index reading of 118.8 was the highest since August 2010 and showed optimists now far outnumbered pessimists.
“This is an extraordinary result,” said Westpac chief economist Bill Evans. “The survey continues to signal that the consumer will be the key driver of above-trend growth in 2021.”
Evans said he had thought the index might decline given some government support measures ended in March and the government was struggling with its vaccine rollout.
Instead, consumers proved resilient with the survey measure of family finances compared with a year ago up 13.4% and the index for finances over the next 12 months rising 5.4%.
The outlook for the economy over the next 12 months climbed 10.3%, while that for the next five years rose 4.1%.
The only dip came in a measure of whether it was a good time to buy a major household item which eased 0.2%, after jumping in March.
The housing market remained a hot topic with the survey’s index of house price expectations rising 2.7% in April, to be 8% above its pre-pandemic levels.
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