The latest survey from the ABS,...........>

AUSTRALIA: The latest survey from the ABS, released earlier today, noted that

45% of Australians aged 18 years and over had their household finances impacted

by COVID-19 in the period mid-March to mid-April. 31% reported their household

finances had worsened over this period, while 14% reported an improvement.

- 81% said their household could raise $2,000 for something important within a

week, lower than the 84% reported in the 2014 General Social Survey, a small

number of Australians reported experiencing financial hardship. 7.5% said their

household lacked the money to pay one or more bills on time, and 10% had to draw

on accumulated savings to support basic living expenses.

- 28% said they received the first one-off $750 economic support payment,

announced by the Commonwealth Government in March as part of the COVID-19

economic stimulus package. Those aged 65 years and over were more likely than

those aged 18 to 64 to have received the first one-off $750 economic support

payment (60% vs. 19%). 53% of persons who received the economic support payment

added it to savings, with persons aged 65 years and over more likely to do so

than persons aged 18 to 64 (71% vs. 37%).