Inside Retailing --- Page: 8 : 21 May 2007 No author supplied for original article
ABIX Summary
The $A31.5 billion in personal income tax cuts announced in the 2007 Australian Budget has improved consumer confidence. The index of consumer sentiment compiled by Westpac and the Melbourne Institute jumped by 7.5 per cent between April and May 2007. Helen Kevans, an economist at JP Morgan, thinks stable interest rates will ensure consumer confidence stays positive in the near term. David Bassenese, of "The Australian Financial Review", counters that there are convincing reasons for another increase in interest rates.
