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More time at home means many Australians now have the opportunity to re-assess their lifestyle and spending habits and set some serious saving goals. So how can you actually go about it?

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In this episode of The nestegg Podcast, host Grace Ormsby is joined by Melbourne-based Reventon’s Billie Christofi to talk all things finance and the impact of isolation on our hip pockets.

In stage 4 lockdown, Billie shares the importance of going back to basics when it comes to budgeting, methods to re-assess spending habits, and some of the less conventional ways people can boost their wealth at this time.

Thanks Billie, for sharing your insights with the nestegg podcast team!

Have an investment story to share? Get in touch at [email protected] and you might get featured on an upcoming episode!

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The return of the wealth effect

By Grace Ormsby

January 21 2020
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Invest

The return of the wealth effect

By Grace Ormsby
January 21 2020

The wealth effect is returning to Australia, with home buying intentions on the improve, according to new analysis.

The return of the wealth effect

By Grace Ormsby

January 21 2020
Share

The wealth effect is returning to Australia, with home buying intentions on the improve, according to new analysis.

Monthly data from the Commonwealth Bank Household Spending Intentions (HSI) series has pointed to early signs “suggesting a positive wealth effect is starting to re-emerge”.

Michael Blythe, the bank’s chief economist, noted some early signs of the “wealth effect” – including spending on motor vehicles, travel and entertainment.

The wealth effect is a change in consumer spending that usually accompanies a change in an individual’s perception of their own wealth.

If they feel wealthier, their spending habits will reflect this.

Home buying household spending intentions mean the pick-up in dwelling prices seen for the second half of 2019 will continue into the first half of 2020, said Mr Blythe.

Construction

It comes as the residential construction downturn approaches its bottom.

“Past cycles show that leading indicators like building approvals turn about three months after home buying intentions start to lift,” according to the economist.

In addition, “a bottoming in the construction cycle would remove a major growth drag on the economy, and also helps retailing”.

Motor vehicles

While buying intentions for motor vehicles were still “soft” overall in December, Mr Blythe said the slow improvement over recent months was able to accelerate sharply on the latest readings.

It’s significant “because RBA research has revealed that the form of spending most sensitive to changes in wealth is motor vehicles”, the economist highlighted.

“A positive wealth effect could help other forms of spending as well,” according to Mr Blythe.

Travel and entertainment

In December, travel spending intentions also continued to trend higher, with Mr Blythe noting that entertainment spending intentions are “improving at a respectable pace”.

Retail

Despite this, retail household spending intentions were down through December, and households remained very cautious about spending on a retail level.

It’s an outcome Mr Blythe has called “disappointing” relative to “the stimulus applied via interest rate cuts, tax rebates and the upturn in dwelling prices”.

“The zig-zag pattern for the retail HSI indicates that the Black Friday event brought forward spending from December into November without necessarily boosting spending overall,” the economist explained.

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About the author

Grace Ormsby

Grace is a journalist on Momentum Media's nestegg. She enjoys being able to provide easy to digest information and practical tips for Australians with regard to their wealth, as well as having a platform on which to engage leading experts and commentators and leverage their insight.

About the author

Grace Ormsby

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