-- 西太平洋銀行-墨爾本研究所週二發布的報告顯示，澳洲3月份消費者信心指數“暴跌”，創下新冠疫情爆發以來最大單月跌幅，並跌至2023年以來的最低水平。 該研究所表示，受燃料價格上漲和利率上升的雙重打擊，西太平洋銀行-墨爾本研究所4月消費者信心指數從3月的91.6降至80.1。 該研究所指出，4月「美國和以色列對伊朗發動戰爭後燃油價格飆升，以及澳洲儲備銀行再次升息25個基點，再次給消費者的財務狀況帶來巨大壓力」。 澳洲消費者信心指數高於100表示消費者樂觀，低於100則表示消費者悲觀。 根據該研究所的月度調查，4月澳洲消費者對失業的擔憂升至近六年來的最高水平，同時消費者對房價前景的樂觀程度也大幅下降。 西太平洋銀行墨爾本研究所表示，澳洲消費者信心指數自2022年以來整體呈上升趨勢，但目前已回落至歷史低點附近，「儘管高於新冠疫情爆發初期以及上世紀八九十年代初經濟衰退期間的極端水平」。 4月「購買大型家用物品時機」分項指數從3月的98降至83.3，進一步顯示消費者信心正在減弱。 4月家庭預期也惡化。該研究所報告稱：“消費者對經濟和家庭財務的短期預期也急劇下降，表明他們認為經濟前景黯淡，並正在為更多困難做好準備。” 西太平洋銀行墨爾本研究所消費者信心調查每月對約1,200名澳洲成年消費者（或家庭）進行調查。
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