New data released today has confirmed New South Wales was on the same downward spending trajectory as Victoria in early August, with its lowest spending since early June. Overall spending in Australia is down 5% on normal levels, largely brought down by the continued strict lockdown in Victoria.

New data released today has confirmed that early superannuation withdrawal continues to drive a huge spending boom and that the program has not been used as intended by many Australians. But as it turns out, many people may not have needed to access their Super early at all.

New data released today has confirmed that spending continues to rise to 15% above pre-crisis levels, driven by the massive cash flow impact of early withdrawal of up to $10,000 in superannuation money and the impact of $750 Stimulus payments.

This week’s data shows that while spending has skyrocketed to 17% above normal levels, almost all of the growth was due to Stimulus and early Super. Meanwhile, as stage 3 restrictions enter their second week, spending in Victoria is around 15% below other states.

New real-time data from illion and AlphaBeta shows that Australia’s low-income earners (those earning less than $65k a year) have carried the economy on their shoulders throughout the COVID-19 crisis.