Alongside the release of the ANZ-Roy......>

AUSTRALIA: Alongside the release of the ANZ-Roy Morgan weekly consumer

confidence index, ANZ noted that "the surge in COVID-19 cases in Victoria has

dented consumer confidence, which dropped 4.6% last week. This was the largest

fall since late-March, when national new daily cases peaked. Confidence in

'current economic conditions' fell sharply, suggesting that households are

worried about the prospect of a return to tighter lockdowns and the impact of a

second wave on the economy. Confidence around 'financial conditions' fell too

and we are already seeing Victorians pull back on spending in the latest ANZ

data. Unfortunately, new daily cases in Victoria jumped to 75 on Monday, the

state's fourth-highest daily total since the pandemic began. This a worrying

sign for confidence and a setback for the recovery."