Australian household spending rises just 0.1% in August, CommBank data show

• CommBank’s Household Spending Insights report, published in September, showed Australian household spending rose just 0.1% in August.
• Food and beverage goods recorded one of the largest monthly spending declines, highlighting softer grocery demand.
• Essential spending rose 4.8% year over year, compared with 3.3% growth in discretionary spending.
• Head of Australian Economics Belinda Allen said household spending was tracking weaker for this time of year than in previous years.

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