FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Australia's Housing Demand Takes Measurable Hit in March quarter, Cotality Says

By

Australia's housing demand took a measurable hit in the March quarter, and total loan commitments fell 6.2% in the quarter due to central bank rate hikes and low confidence, Cotality said in a report.

The overall value of lending dropped by 3.8%. However, both measures remained higher than in March 2025.

Consumer confidence surveys also fell as energy prices surged in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East in late February, with low confidence acting as a deterrent to a high-value purchase.

The quarterly volume of owner-occupier loans fell by 6.9%, while the volume of investor lending fell 5.3%. In value terms, owner-occupiers fell by 4.3% compared with a 3% decline for investors. The overall decline in the volume of investor lending was led by New South Wales and Western Australia, while the volume of investor lending in both South Australia and Tasmania increased in March.

Within the owner-occupier segment, there was a smaller fall in the volume of lending to first home buyers than there was to other owner-occupiers. The average new loan size for first home buyers fell in the quarter, down around 2.6%, compared with a 1.6% increase for other owner-occupiers.

Compared with other property purchasers, first home buyers tend to be more rate sensitive. Overall, Victoria continues to lead first home buyer lending activity as a share of the total, while first home buyer lending volume fell by the most in South Australia at 6.1%.

Related Articles

International

New Zealand Retail Sales Data Points to 'Solid Lift' in Consumer Spending, Westpac Says

New Zealand's retail sales data for the March quarter points to a "solid lift" in consumer spending, advancing a retail sector recovery that started in late 2024, Westpac said in a Friday report.The country's volume of seasonally adjusted retail sales hit NZ$26.04 billion in the March quarter, up 0.9% from the December 2025 quarter and exceeding Westpac's forecast for a 0.2% increase.Some of the growth in nominal spending, which rose 2.2% over the quarter and 6.1% from a year earlier, is a result of higher prices, especially for fuel, the bank said.Strong growth in tourist arrivals buoyed the results, as the volume of spending on accommodation rose over 6% during the quarter. Spending on food and beverage services also increased, while spending on footwear, apparel, and recreational goods fell, possibly reflecting an early reaction to the Middle East conflict, Westpac said.Given the impact of the Middle East conflict, the current quarter will probably be "a much tougher one for retailers, especially those selling discretionary items," the bank said, adding that the economy's second-half performance will depend on how the conflict evolves and how New Zealand's central bank responds to a spike in inflation.Westpac continues to anticipate gross domestic product growth of 0.8% in the March quarter.

^NZ50
International

South Korea Consumer Confidence Bounces Back to Optimism

South Korea's composite consumer sentiment index rose to 106.1 in May from 99.2 in April, according to data released by the Bank of Korea on Friday.A reading above 100 indicates an improved outlook, while a reading below 100 suggests pessimism.Sentiment toward current living standards rose two points to 93, while sentiment on the future outlook gained five points to 97.The outlook for future household income was up two points to 100, while the sentiment for future household spending also rose by two points to 110.Optimism regarding current local economic conditions increased by 15 points to 83, and the reading for future domestic economic conditions was 14 points higher at 93.

^KOSDAQKOSPI
International

New Zealand's Total Vehicle Registrations Fall in April

New Zealand's total vehicle registrations were 4.6 million in April, a decrease of 28,966 from the previous month, covering both six and 12-month licensing periods, data from Stats NZ showed Friday.The decrease was driven by a decline in car registrations, which fell by 8,494 month on month to about 3 million, while rental car and motorcycle registrations dropped to 42,832 and 66,185 from 45,500 and 74,581, respectively, the report said.Compared with the year-earlier period, total vehicle registrations in New Zealand rose by 837 in April, the report added.

^NZ50