Sentiment & polls · Consumers
As at 13 October 2026 · official data unless labelled
How do households feel, and do the numbers bear it out?
Consumer confidence (OECD harmonised index)
September 2026Consumer confidence was 98.4 in September 2026, down 0.01 points on the previous reading (98.4).
The benchmark is 100, the index's long-run average: above 100 means consumers are more confident than usual, below 100 less. The latest reading is 1.57 below it.
It is close to its 10-year average of 99.4.
Across 29 OECD countries (September 2026), Australia ranks 22nd best of 29 on consumer confidence (OECD harmonised index), below the median of 98.9.
Why it matters. How households rate their finances and the economy, harmonised by the OECD from national consumer surveys and scaled so each country's long-run average is 100. Gloomy households spend less, which feeds back into growth.
What's driving it
5 of 5 under pressureOn target or better than usualWorse than usualOutside the target bandA level, neither better nor worseBars show how far each reading sits from its benchmark: left of centre below it, right above it.