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The latest Consumer Pulse survey, collated by market research firm Agile Market Intelligence, has found that 24 per cent of Australian households are prioritising day-to-day expenses in January 2026, the lowest proportion recorded since tracking began.
Collecting data from around 1,500 respondents each month, the survey tracks changing financial priorities across households with mortgages, consumer debt, and those who are debt-free.
The survey has shown that fewer households are prioritising day-to-day expenses, creating room for Australians to redirect attention toward saving and debt reduction.
Saving is now the top financial priority nationally, cited by 47 per cent of Australians, while 29 per cent are prioritising paying off their debts. Almost one in four households remains focused on day-to-day expenses, a 5 percentage point decline since November 2025.
Agile Market Intelligence said the easing of cost pressures is likely linked to the recent slowdown in inflation, giving households greater flexibility in how they allocate their finances.
According to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 8 January, inflation eased slightly in November 2025.
The consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.4 per cent in the 12 months to November 2025, down from a 3.8 per cent rise in the 12 months to October 2025.
“Australians are less concerned about their day-to-day expenses, thanks to the inflation drop at the start of the year,” said Michael Johnson, director at Agile Market Intelligence.
“This implies a decrease in costs for those with debts, and increased purchasing power for day-to-day expenses. However, consumers ought to be wary that an inflation drop now does not remove the possibility of an inflation hike later in the year.”
Mortgage holders feeling the relief
Mortgage holders are experiencing the most significant shift to saving. While paying off debt remains the primary financial priority for this group, cited by 63 per cent of respondents, the share has fallen by 8 percentage points compared to December.
At the same time, the proportion of mortgage holders prioritising savings has risen sharply, increasing by 9 percentage points to 30 per cent. Day-to-day expenses remain the lowest priority for mortgage holders, concerning just 7 per cent of households.
In Agile Market Intelligence’s analysis, it said mortgage holders appear to be feeling the greatest relief from the slowing inflation rate, which has allowed them to redirect attention toward building savings buffers in anticipation of potential price increases later in the year.
Debt-free consumers focused on saving
Debt-free Australians are even more firmly focused on saving. Sixty-four per cent of households without mortgages or consumer debt nominated savings as their top financial priority in January, representing the largest segment of the population doing so.
Concern about day-to-day expenses among debt-free households has eased notably, falling to 36 per cent in January from 42 per cent in November.
Agile Market Intelligence said this decline has enabled more households to shift their focus toward growing savings, following a steady upward trend since late 2025.
Debt holders seeking to settle
Consumer debt holders are prioritising debt reduction over other financial goals.
Forty-one per cent of debt holders identified settling debts as their main priority in January, an 11 percentage point increase from December.
Savings remain the second-highest priority for consumer debt holders at 38 per cent, while concern about day-to-day expenses has fallen to 21 per cent.
[Related: RBA deputy governor dismisses rate cuts despite easing inflation]