Statsnack: caution on the wane

To some extent, this is inhibiting the transmission of monetary policy in the country, with wealth effects yet to provide a real kick-start to consumer spending or the wider recovery.

"While consumer confidence remains fragile, seven years of household balance sheet repair has left households in much better shape."
ANZ Research

The behaviour of the household saving rate is perhaps one of the best illustrations of the rise of caution among households. 

The saving rate steadily declined through the 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s as a reduction in real interest rates and financial liberalisation drove a sharp run up in household debt. 

The savings rate remains elevated

By the mid-2000s, households were feeling so confident about the outlook they were saving virtually nothing out of their income. 

Even before the big hit from the global financial crisis, however, households began to lift the savings rate, although strong growth in incomes allowed them to maintain a high rate of spending.

Post the global financial crisis, the saving rate rose sharply to peak at over 12 per cent in 2009, the highest level since the 1980s. This occurred as households attempted to repair their balance sheets damaged by sharp falls in asset prices. 

While consumer confidence remains fragile, 7 years of household balance sheet repair has left households in much better shape. Moreover, there are early signs that risk aversion is abating. 

The trajectory for consumer confidence remains important for the consumer spending outlook. 

While ongoing soft wage growth will continue to weigh on spending, a moderate pick-up in growth in household consumption, helped by a further gradual fall in the savings rate, looks likely.