• Australian consumer spending rose 1.1% in September, up 9% annually, according to NAB's Consumer Spend Trend report.
• Fuel spending jumped 8.3% over the month, reaching 31.1% above year-earlier levels as higher retail prices lifted essential costs.
• Excluding fuel, spending increased 0.7% over the month. Non-discretionary spending rose 1.2%.
• Discretionary spending gained 1% monthly, up 8.8% annually, underscoring household resilience despite rising fuel costs.
• Consumer resilience contrasted with a weaker business backdrop, with businesses more cautious as higher fuel and other input costs flowed through the economy.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. NAB - National Australia Bank Ltd. published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.