The Australian National Accounts for the June 2023 quarter revealed that wages growth remains very strong and, despite a range of headwinds, households still want to spend their money. They continue to tap into stored-up savings to sustain spending habits. Wages grew 9.2%, disposable income only rose 2.1% and consumer spending was up 7.8%. The Australian economy is also benefiting from population growth of 2.4%, which should remain above trend for another 12 months. The headwinds for household will continue and retail spending is likely to remain weak give both a squeeze on living costs and a desire to spend elsewhere outside of retail. This weakness is likely to be most acute in calendar 2023, but we may not see a meaningful improvement in retail sales growth till 2025.

Australia’s national accounts for the March quarter provides a clear narrative about the state of the consumer in 2023. Wages growth is very strong and even though interest rates are starting to bite, households are still spending. They have lowered their savings and switched spending to travel and recreation. The retail downturn thus far is only partly attributable to higher interest rates. The combination of a continued switch in spend outside of retail and higher interest rates mean the downturn will become more acute over the next six months. We may not see a return to trend growth in retail until 2025.

The Australian national accounts for the December 2022 quarter foreshadow the dynamic that will play out in 2023. Wages growth is strong, but disposable income is weak. Consumers are also switching back to more normal spending habits with strong recovery in recreation. So far retail has not felt the effects, but under the surface there is already weakness. Retail sales growth of 9% year on year in the December quarter was largely a function of price. As we move into 2023, the fade in retail inflation contribute meaningfully to weaker sales growth. While savings rates are now below 2019 levels, the stored up savings from the last two years are still yet to be spent. For more, please see our report Retail forecasts for 2023 – Brace for Impact, January 2023.

The National Accounts highlights the pinch from higher interest rates starting to show through. Household income rose 3.6% in the September 2022 quarter, down from 6.5% in the June quarter. However, savings rates are the cushion that will continue for the next six months, preventing a retail sales downturn till mid next year.  Savings dropped from 8.3% in June to 6.9% in September. The stored up savings in the bank over past 2.5 years have not been used, which keeps consumers personally confident despite a multitude of macro-economic headlines that spooks sentiment. We expect a good Christmas for retail and even decent March 2023 quarter. Retail sales will slow meaningfully, just not yet.

The National Accounts for the June 2022 quarter paints a strong picture of the  Australian consumer. Despite fears about higher interest rates, the prevailing climate is one where incomes are growing faster and savings are being drawn down gradually. We expect the strength of income and savings to outweigh the headwinds for at least another six months. It is fair to caution that once the slowdown arrives around mid-2023, it could be a protracted downturn.

Australian national accounts show that the consumer still has a preference for retail spending, even as government stimulus unwinds.  Household incomes rose 4% and spending was up 7% in the March 2022 quarter. Savings are still high at 11% of income, compared with a pre COVID level of 7%. We also thought it was interesting that the recovery in non-retail spending in the quarter was not at the expense of retail spending. Compared with the US and UK, we expect a longer-dated slowdown in retail spending that timestamps the risk for 2023, not 2022.

The Australian consumer has exited lockdowns in a strong financial position. In the December 2021 quarter, household income grew 5%, which is better than long-term trends and the savings rate was 14% of income. We estimate households have $200 billion in excess savings to fund holidays and a return to normal spending patterns. This bodes well for a soft landing in retail sales for 2022.

Australian GDP fell by 1.9% in the September 2021 quarter, but the national accounts provide a more positive take on the consumer. Wages grew, savings lifted and, even with lockdowns, some areas of retail saw growth like food and online. The statistic that raises the most significant debate is savings. Household savings were 18% of income and households have saved more than $365 billion since the start of 2020. Such significant savings makes us more confident of a soft landing in retail over the next 12 months.

Australian National Accounts for the June 2021 quarter show some normalisation compared with the lockdown impacts on income and spending a year ago. Two-year CAGR household income growth is 5% which compares with retail sales CAGR growth of 6% for the June quarter. Australians have also saved $243 billion since the start of 2020. This elevated level of savings will be the first bucket of money used for holidays when borders reopen. Any slowdown in retail spending is likely to be more modest than people expect.