Australian household financial sentiment is showing early signs of recovery following the Reserve Bank’s recent interest rate cuts, but new research reveals three in ten Australians still feel financially anxious.
The latest Consumer Pulse survey from Agile Market Intelligence found 30 per cent of Australians reported financial anxiety in August, down only 2 percentage points from July.
Mortgage holders recorded a slight rise in anxiety levels, up 1 per cent month-on-month, while other household groups saw marginal declines.
The most stressed segment remains consumer debt holders, with 39 per cent reporting financial anxiety, suggesting rate cuts alone have not eased pressures for many households.
More Australians feel better off than last year
The data also shows a modest shift in how Australians view their financial health.
In August, 26 per cent said they were better off than 12 months ago, a 3 per cent increase from July.
The proportion saying they were worse off fell to 30 per cent, down from 35 per cent.
Younger Australians reported the most optimism about their financial trajectory, while women aged 55 and over showed the sharpest improvement in sentiment, with fewer saying they were worse off compared to earlier in the year.
Cashflow pressures remain sticky
Despite improving sentiment, household budgets remain tight.
Nineteen per cent of Australians reported negative cashflow in August, unchanged for the third consecutive month.
Meanwhile, 36 per cent reported positive cashflow, up 3 per cent from July, driven almost entirely by debt-free households.
Gender disparities are evident across all measures, with women consistently reporting worse outcomes than men.
In August, women were around twice as likely as men to report negative cashflow, underscoring a persistent financial gap.
For the real estate sector, the findings highlight a cautious consumer environment.
While confidence is starting to lift, affordability concerns remain a barrier, particularly for those carrying debt.
Agents may see more interest from younger buyers entering the market, but sellers may need to temper expectations as anxiety and cashflow pressures continue to weigh on household decisions.
The August Consumer Pulse results are based on 9,003 survey responses collected between March and August 2025. The survey samples over 1,500 Australians each month and is weighted to reflect national population profiles by age, gender, and state.
