Financial Wire

Australia's Weekly Consumer Confidence Rises, ANZ Says

-- Australia's consumer confidence lifted 2.2 points in the April 6 to April 12 week to 64.5 points, recording its second consecutive weekly rise, while the four-week moving average fell 1 point to 62.2 points, ANZ said in a Tuesday report.

Weekly inflation expectations declined 0.5 percentage points to 6.7%, while the four-week moving average was unchanged at 7%.

The survey's measure for current financial conditions over the last year eased 0.8 points to 52.6, while future financial conditions for the next 12 months rose 4.4 points to 76.4.

Short-term economic confidence for the next 12 months was up 3.2 points to 54.1, and medium-term economic confidence for the next five years gained 2.3 points to 76.7.

The survey's "time to buy a major household item" subindex increased 1.6 points in the week to 62.7.

Most subindices improved last week, which may have been driven by news of the US-Iran ceasefire, the report said.

However, on a four-week moving average basis, inflation expectations remain at their highest since this subindex series began in 2010, the bank added.

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