Industry Focus

ECONOMICS Chart 1. Consumer Sentiment Chart 2. Consumer Sentiment—November 2013 avg* Nov 2011 Nov 2012 Oct 2013 Nov 2013 %mth %yr Consumer Sentiment Index 101.8 103.4 104.3 108.3 110.3 1.9 5.8 Family finances vs a year ago 89.8 87.4 91.8 87.7 99.4 13.3 8.3 Family finances next 12 months 108.5 97.3 100.2 108.5 99.9 -7.9 -0.2 Economic conditions next 12 months 90.5 102.4 96.6 106.8 107.3 0.4 11.1 Economic conditions next 5 years 91.0 103.1 96.8 101.8 102.4 0.5 5.8 Time to buy a major household item 128.0 126.6 136.1 136.8 142.8 4.4 4.9 Time to buy a dwelling 123.4 125.8 139.8 130.0 135.5 4.2 -3.1 Time to buy a vehicle 122.7 120.5 137.5 135.5 141.8 4.7 3.1 Unemployment Expectations Index 128.6 130.2 142.2 143.5 144.7 0.9 1.8 House Price Expectations Index 132.5 n.a n.a 159.2 164.2 3.1 n.a Source: Westpac-Melbourne Institute * vg over full history of the survey, all figures except 'dwelling', 'vehicle' and 'unemployment' indexes are a seasonally adjusted Survey interviews are conducted by OZINFO Research on the telephone using trained interviewers. Telephone numbers and the household respondent are selected at random. This latest survey is based on 1200 adults aged 18 years and over, across Australia. It was conducted in the week from 4 November to 9 November 2013. The data has been weighted to reflect Australia's population distribution. Copyright at all times remains with the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The forecasts given above are predictive in character. While every effort has been taken to ensure that the assumptions on which the forecasts are based are reasonable, the forecasts may be affected by incorrect assumptions, or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. The results ultimately achieved may differ substantially from these forecasts. Franchising • Issue 1 15

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