Issues polling

What Australians care about

Economic mood is near historic lows. ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence fell from the mid-80s in 2025 to a record low of 58.8 in late March 2026 as the Iran war pushed up fuel prices, and was 68.0 in early October. Only 5% expect good times for the economy over the next year, against 45% expecting bad times. Roy Morgan finds 62.5% saying Australia is going in the wrong direction and 24.5% the right direction. About a quarter of Australians name the economy among the most important issues (Ipsos).

How much it matters

Ipsos Issues Monitor: % naming each as one of the most important issues facing Australia.

Consumer confidence

ANZ-Roy Morgan: Consumer Confidence index, weekly (100 = as many optimists as pessimists). Dated by the last day of fieldwork.

Confidence

roymorgan.com: consumer confidence anz roy morgan australian cc summary

Good or bad times ahead?

ANZ-Roy Morgan: % expecting good times or bad times for the Australian economy over the next twelve months, weekly.

Bad timesGood times

Is Australia heading in the right direction?

Roy Morgan: % saying Australia is going in the right or the wrong direction.

Wrong directionRight direction

Consumer sentiment

Westpac-Melbourne Institute: Index of Consumer Sentiment, monthly (100 = neutral).

Sentiment

Key facts

Sept 2024Roy Morgan (n=14,713): 57% named keeping living costs down among their three most important issues, 22% managing the economy and 19% keeping interest rates down. (roymorgan.com)
29 Mar 2026ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence hit an all-time record low of 58.8 in the week of 23-29 March 2026, after the US-Israel strikes on Iran (28 Feb 2026) drove fuel prices up; six of the seven lowest readings ever came in the following six weeks. (roymorgan.com)
4 May 2026Roy Morgan reported the RBA had raised the cash rate in February and March 2026 by a total of 0.5 points to 4.1%, ABS headline CPI was 4.6% for the 12 months to March 2026 (trimmed mean 3.3%), and Roy Morgan Business Confidence fell to a record low 76.5 in April 2026. (roymorgan.com)
6 Oct 2026Westpac-MI consumer sentiment fell 4.7% to 80.4 in October 2026; respondents surveyed before the RBA decision averaged 86.9, those surveyed after averaged 67.2. Westpac cited higher fuel prices, higher interest rates and a broadening housing downturn. (westpaciq.com.au)
11 Oct 2026Roy Morgan (fieldwork 28 Sep-11 Oct 2026, n=2,655): 62.5% say Australia is going in the wrong direction, 24.5% right direction; wrong direction highest in Queensland (68.5%), lowest in South Australia (54%). (roymorgan.com)
13 Oct 2026ANZ economist (in Roy Morgan release) said the RBA increased the cash rate to 4.60% in September 2026; ANZ expects another 25bp rise in November more likely than not. Consumer confidence (68.0) was 15 points lower than a year earlier. (roymorgan.com)