Consumer Sentiment Tracker

Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a live, nationally representative study of the Australian public. Developed by Finder and conducted by Qualtrics, a SAP company, it continuously monitors consumer sentiment in Australia. The survey, which has so far polled over 88,000 Australians, expands monthly by 1,000 participants. Selection criteria include age, location, gender, and income, ensuring a demographic cross-section that mirrors Australia's population. Topics covered are happiness, financial sentiment, economic sentiment, employment confidence, and more.

This data represents a brief overview of notable insights but is just a fraction of the survey's comprehensive scope. Journalists and researchers interested in more detailed information can contact us using the details provided at the end of this page.

Jump to: Happiness | Economic confidence | Current Financial Situation | Employment Confidence | Future Expectations | Spending Intentions

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Happiness

One of the simplest questions in our survey, "Would you say you are happy right now?" produced some of the most interesting insights. According to the Finder survey, 77% of Australians say they are happy, while 23% say otherwise. We break down happiness by age, state, employment status, relationship status, residence, and income.

Would you say you are happy right now?

• Overall
• Age
• State
• Employment status
• Income
• Relationship status
• Property ownership
• Gender

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Economic Confidence

This section dives into public sentiment about the economy. We look at how people perceive the likelihood of a recession in Australia, whether now is a good time to buy property, and how they expect property values in their local area to change over the next year.

Do you think Australia will experience a recession in the next 12 month?

How likely do Aussies think a recession is on the horizon? This set of charts tracks how confidence – or concern – has shifted over time. Back in July 2020 a massive 88% of people thought a recession was likely. By June 2021, that figure had almost halved. As of May 2026, 66% of Aussies believed Australia would enter a recession within the next 12 months.

• Overall
• Gender
• Generation

Do you believe now is a good time to buy property?

Is now a good time to buy property? Aussies have been split on the answer over the years. Sentiment peaked at 67% in December 2020, then dropped to a record low of 25% in May 2023. As of May 2026, 30% say it’s a good time to buy. Take a look at how opinions have shifted.

• Overall
• Generation
• State

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Current Financial Situation

In this section, we examine individuals' current financial health. This includes average personal and household incomes, cash savings, and how long people could rely on their savings if they lost their job. We also explore their ability to manage without a credit card, struggles with home loan or rent payments, and stress related to their financial situation.

Personal and total household income

How much do you have in cash savings?

• Overall
• Gender
• Generation
• State

If you lost your job tomorrow, how long could you live off your savings for?

How long could you manage if you suddenly lost your job? These charts show how many weeks, on average, Australians say they could live off their savings. The highest point was in August 2025 at 19 weeks, but by July 2023 , that dropped to 14.2 weeks. As of May 2026, the average had climbed back up to 17 weeks. Take a look at how financial cushions have shifted over time.

• Overall
• Gender

Could you manage your budget/finances without a credit card?

How much do Aussies depend on their credit cards? These charts reveal the percentage of people who say they couldn’t manage their finances without one. It’s changed over the years — peaking at 31% in May 2019 , dipping to 20% in May 2021. By May 2026, that number is back up to 30%. See how credit card reliance has shifted.

• Overall
• Gender
• Generation

How stressed are you with your current financial situation?

Money stress is hitting hard. These charts show how many Aussies say they're feeling the pressure about their current finances. In July 2023, a huge 83% reported being stressed — the highest since the survey began. By May 2026, that number had eased slightly to 79%. Check out how financial stress has changed over time.

• Overall
• Gender

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Employment Confidence

In this section, we assess job security and expectations for salary increases. We gauge how secure people feel in their current jobs and their outlook on receiving a pay rise in the next year.

Do you feel secure in your current job?

How secure do Aussies feel in their jobs? These charts track the percentage of people who say they feel safe at work. Job confidence peaked in November 2022, with 74% feeling secure — the highest since 2019. By May 2026, 63% of people feel secure in their current job. See how feelings of job security have changed.

• Overall
• Gender
• Generation

Do you think you will get a pay rise in the next 12 months?

Feeling optimistic about a pay rise? In April 2021, 56% of Australians expected a raise in the next 12 months — the highest level of optimism since the survey started. By May 2026, that number had dropped to 51%. See how confidence in pay bumps has changed over time.

Future Expectations

This part of the survey looks at people’s long-term outlook. We explore when individuals expect to own their own home and their feelings about various aspects of their near future.

When do you think you’ll own your own home?

For many Aussies, homeownership still feels like a waiting game. When asked when they think they’ll finally get the keys to their own place, the average timeline has changed over time. As of Q2 2026, people estimate it will take about 7.6 years to own their home.

When thinking about the near future, how do you feel about the following?

How optimistic are Australians about their finances and job security? This chart tracks the share of people who feel positive about areas such as their salary, employment, housing affordability and household debt.

As of May 2026, 45% feel optimistic about job security, while 40% are positive about their cost of living and salary. Meanwhile, 39% feel confident managing household debt and 35% are hopeful about housing affordability.

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Spending Intentions

We investigate planned spending behaviors by asking about upcoming holidays and average weekly grocery expenses. This section provides insights into how people plan to allocate their finances in the coming year.

Are you planning a holiday in the next 12 months?

Aussies are eager to travel. In February 2025, 66% said they planned a holiday in the next 12 months. the highest level of travel intent since 2019. By May 2026, that number dropped to 58%. See how holiday plans have changed over time.

How much do you spend per week on online shopping (excluding groceries)?

Online shopping habits are adding up. Finder asked Aussies how much they spend each week online (excluding groceries), and in October 2024, the average reached $452 — the highest since the survey started. By May 2026, that number dropped to $221. See how weekly spending has changed over time.

How much do you spend on groceries per week for your household?

Grocery bills are climbing. In December 2024, Aussies were spending an average of $301 a week on groceries — the highest since 2019. By May 2026, that dropped to $205. This chart shows how weekly household grocery spending has changed over time.