Australian Clothing Prices Cool as Shoppers Pull Back

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 03:09:47 +0000

Fashion inflation eases below the headline rate

Australian shoppers browsing for new season clothing have caught a small break. Consumer price inflation across the economy climbed to 4.0 per cent year-on-year in August 2026, up from 3.5 per cent in July, but clothing and footwear prices did not keep pace with that acceleration. The category rose 2.6 per cent over the year, a marked slowdown from 4.9 per cent in July, and now sits comfortably below the headline rate.

Household Spending on Marianne Caroline

Australian Clothing Prices Cool as Shoppers Pull Back

Fashion inflation eases below the headline rate