Clothing and footwear spending in Australia has been affected by competing forces in recent years. Global fast fashion supply chains and the growth of online retail have kept prices low and increased accessibility, while sustainability concerns and cost of living pressures have influenced purchasing behaviour.
The ABS Monthly Household Spending Indicator tracks clothing and footwear spending using bank transaction data across all states and territories. Unlike most other spending categories, clothing costs have generally remained stable or declined in real terms due to the competitive pricing of imported apparel.
Australian clothing retail has undergone significant structural change with the growth of online shopping, including cross-border purchases from international retailers. This has increased price competition and consumer choice while creating challenges for domestic bricks-and-mortar retailers.
Spending on clothing varies considerably across demographic groups, income levels, and geographic locations. Higher income households spend more in absolute terms on clothing across the broad range of price points available in the market.
Data sourced from ABS Monthly Household Spending Indicator clothing and footwear category. Updated monthly with quarterly and annual aggregations.