The Beforepay Cost of Living Index rose 14.9% in June to a daily average spend of $70.52, marking the sharpest monthly increase recorded this year. While rising costs played a role, the standout driver was a 32.2% surge in durable shopping, as Australians appeared to take advantage of end-of-financial-year (EOFY) sales and tax-time spending opportunities. On a yearly basis, the Index rose 12.1% from $62.91 in June 2024.
Durable shopping—covering longer-term purchases like electronics, appliances, and furniture—reached a daily average spend of $9.24, its highest level in over a year. The timing suggests that many households may have been aligning higher-value purchases with EOFY promotions in June.
Spending rose across all tracked categories, suggesting that June’s increase wasn’t limited to one-off purchases.
Utilities climbed 21% to a daily average of $8.52, continuing its rise into winter. Fitness and health (+17.6%) and general shopping (+15.6%) also moved higher, while spending on entertainment and leisure (+11.7%) picked up as households adjusted to seasonal routines.
Day-to-day essentials like food and drink (+10.4%), petrol and auto (+11.3%), and groceries (+8.4%) also saw steady increases—suggesting that the lift in spending extended across both planned and routine expenses.
The June Beforepay Cost of Living Index is drawn from real-time transaction data from over 440,000 users and tracks average daily spending across key household expense categories.
Below is a full month-by-month breakdown over the last 12 months. See sub-category descriptions here.
For more information contact mediaenquiries@beforepay.com.au for more information.
Below are brief descriptions that outline the type of expenses applicable to each spending category.
Grocery stores where raw vegetables and meat are sold.
Any restaurant, pub or vendor that sells food that is not prepared or processed, i.e. not groceries.
Any spending on petrol, car maintenance and car accessories.
Spending on non-edible, non-durable goods, i.e. clothing, shoes, consumer packaged goods.
Spending on electricity, gas (home) and phone.
Movie streaming, tickets, mobile and console gaming, hobbies, bookshops and other recreation expenses.
Spending on long lasting products, such as white goods.
Any expenses on gyms, health insurance and chemists
About the Beforepay Cost of Living Index
The Beforepay Cost of Living Index shows the average daily spend of Beforepay registered users across multiple household expense categories. As of March 2024, the average annual individual Beforepay customer gross income was $65,783 (counting only the main source of income) with a broadly representative geographic and gender breakdown. The data may vary depending on the main bank account linked with Beforepay. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Beforepay and its related bodies corporate, make no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or reliability of the contents of this article and do not accept any liability for any loss whatsoever arising from the use of this article or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with it. The Beforepay Cost of Living Index shows the average daily spend of Beforepay registered users across multiple household expense categories.