Australian Consumers Remain Downbeat About Economic Outlook

SYDNEY—Australian consumer confidence fell in September amid concerns about job security as economic growth slows to a crawl.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index slipped 0.5% to 84.6 in September from 85.0 in August.

While cost-of-living pressures are becoming a little less intense and fears of further interest rate rises have eased, consumers are becoming more concerned about where the economy may be headed and what this could mean for jobs, said Westpac’s Head of Australian Macro-Forecasting, Matthew Hassan.

Consumers remain concerned about rising inflation, which is stoking concerns that interest rates may rise further, Hassan added.

The report comes a week after data showed the economy barely registered a pulse in the second quarter as consumer spending dropped sharply.

On-year GDP growth in the second quarter was the weakest since the early 1990s, excluding the pandemic years.

At the same time, the Reserve Bank of Australia continued to signal that interest rate cuts are unlikely in the near term, while adding that under certain circumstances a further hike in interest rates may be needed.

The RBA remains concerned about price growth, with core inflation remaining stubbornly elevated at nearly 4.0% on year in the second quarter.

Still, while consumers are downbeat, economists expect spending to regather momentum over coming quarters as income tax cuts delivered in July boost household budgets.

Australian furniture brand King Living has expanded its Aura Collection with the launch of a new modular sofa designed to blend contemporary aesthetics with adaptable living.

The Aura Sofa builds on the success of the Aura Island range, first introduced in 2023, which included indoor and outdoor sofas as well as fixed and swivel occasional chairs.

The latest evolution introduces modular functionality to the collection, allowing homeowners to configure the sofa to suit a variety of spaces and uses.

As living spaces continue to evolve, particularly in urban environments where flexibility is increasingly valued, furniture designers are placing greater emphasis on products that can adapt over time.

King Living says the new Aura Sofa has been developed with this trend in mind, enabling customers to create corner, L-shaped or U-shaped layouts, while also allowing additional modules to be added as needs change.

King Living founder David King said the original Aura concept began as an exploration of sculptural design before being reimagined as a modular system.

“Aura began as an exploration of sculptural form. Now, we’ve brought modularity into that design language, giving the freedom to reimagine your space with a modular design made for flexibility,” he said.

The collection’s defining feature remains its soft, flowing silhouette, with curved forms replacing traditional angular sofa designs.

The company describes the sofa as a response to changing lifestyles, where living rooms increasingly serve multiple purposes, from entertaining guests and family gatherings to quiet reading corners and work-from-home spaces.

Its rounded profile and minimalist aesthetic are intended to enhance the flow of contemporary interiors while maximising available space. According to the company, the design is equally suited to compact apartments and larger open-plan homes.

“Today, living space is both a luxury and a constraint. Aura is our response, a purposeful design that proves when intention and fluidity converge, the result can feel both expansive and refined,” King said.

Beyond aesthetics, the new sofa incorporates several engineering features synonymous with the King Living brand.

These include the company’s Postureflex steel suspension system, extra-high pocket springs and its signature steel frame, which is backed by a 25-year warranty. The company says the design has been engineered to deliver long-term comfort and durability.

Sustainability has also been a focus of the design. Each module features a removable cover that can be professionally cleaned, repaired or replaced individually, reducing the need to replace an entire sofa and potentially extending the product’s lifespan.

The Aura Sofa is available made to order in a range of premium fabrics and European leathers, allowing customers to tailor the piece to different interior styles and colour palettes.

Designed, manufactured and sold exclusively by King Living, the Aura Sofa launched in showrooms and online early this month, marking the latest addition to the Australian company’s growing portfolio of modular furniture designs.

Australian Consumers Remain Downbeat About Economic Outlook

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index slipped to 84.6 in September from 85.0 in August

King Living has unveiled a modular version of its Aura Sofa, bringing greater flexibility to the sculptural design collection as demand grows for furniture that can adapt to changing lifestyles.