CANBERRA, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Household spending in Australia rose 0.6 percent in September, following a 0.1 percent fall in August, according to official data released on Wednesday.
The increase was recorded across both essential and discretionary spending categories, with transport and health each rising 1.5 percent, while recreation and culture increased by 0.8 percent, Tom Lay, head of business statistics at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), said in a statement.
Transport spending rose on higher expenditure on fuel, vehicle repairs and maintenance, and domestic air travel as people traveled to attend major sporting events, Lay said.
Fuel spending rose 5.4 percent in September, reflecting higher global oil prices and the end of fuel excise relief on Aug. 3. However, separate experimental ABS data showed that the volume of fuel purchased fell 2.2 percent during the month, following a 0.6 percent decline in August.
Health spending increased due to higher expenditure on doctor visits, dental and optometric services, pharmaceuticals and toiletry goods, Lay said, adding that late flu activity likely contributed to the rise by driving greater demand for medical consultations and medicines.
On a quarterly basis, household spending grew 0.7 percent in the September quarter, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of growth, with seven of the nine spending categories recording increases, Lay said, adding that transport posted the strongest growth, rising 1.6 percent, led by higher spending on air travel. ■
