Almost half of Australian households are spending more on groceries than last year, a new study found.
Research from Monash Business School also found 58 per cent of Australians viewed grocery prices as unfair and deferred purchasing certain products until sales.
Dr Eloise Zoppos said the research showed that cost-of-living remained at the top of mind for many Australians.
”Compared to the same time last year, many Australian shoppers report that they are spending more across essential categories,” she said.
“For example, over half of shoppers reported that they spent more on housing, insurance and groceries than at the same time last year – and the latter had increased from 49 per cent when we asked the same question in 2023.
”The essential categories were the most likely to be seen by Australian shoppers as unfairly priced, with over half viewing housing costs, groceries and related products and insurance costs as being unfair.”
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The research found that more than half of shoppers hold off or defer purchases until they are on sale more now than they did at the same time last year.
”It is clear that many Aussies are revisiting their usual spending habits, so this year we also asked Australian shoppers about their saving habits,” Zoppos said.
About 82 per cent of people surveyed also saved at least a portion of their monthly income.
