Saving Tomorrow: The Savings and Spending Patterns of Australians

Abstract

Whatever the reason for the change in Australian saving behaviour - whether it be the impact of the global financial crisis or baby boomers approaching retirement - it is a start in the right direction. However, the aggregate figures can be unreliable and they provide little insight into who is doing the saving and who is not. Fortunately, the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey tracks the incomes, assets and debts of Australian individuals over time. Using this survey we can follow the actual annual savings of each person. In this AMP.NATSEM Income and Wealth report, we examine people’s savings over a four year period to find Australia’s best and worst savers.