Mumbai, Jan. 13 -- Australia's Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index fell 1.7% month-on-month in January 2026 to 92.9, extending December's steep decline. Short-term economic expectations weakened sharply, while longer-term views showed a slight improvement. Household finances compared to a year ago improved modestly, but expectations for the year ahead deteriorated. Concerns about unemployment increased, signaling rising anxiety over job prospects. Westpac noted that persistent inflation and resilient spending have left consumers increasingly cautious about the economic outlook for 2026.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Capital Market....