The March ABS Household Impacts of Covid-19 Survey covered topics including wellbeing, precautionary behaviour and use of public transport. The survey was conducted between 12 and 21 March taking into account responses from around 3,900 people.
Reflecting the easing of pandemic-related concerns, measures of emotional and mental wellbeing have improved over time. Since August, there have been large declines in measured levels of nervousness (46% to 27%), restlessness (41% to 22%) and that everything was an effort (41% to 24%). Feelings of hopelessness, sadness and worthlessness have also lessened over the period.
Separately released data today showed that consumer sentiment according to the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index in April had risen to an 11-year high. Since the most recent low of 79.5 in August, sentiment has improved by nearly 50%, with the lessening in emotional and mental stress over this time providing some important context.
With very low virus case numbers being recorded in Australia over the past 6 months or so, precautionary behaviours tracked by the survey have declined. This is most clearly seen in rates of social distancing, which have fallen from 88% in September to 66% in March as restrictions have been wound back, while staying at home has fallen by around one-third over the past 5 months. However, regular hand hygiene appears to be one practice that has stuck. Use of facemasks rose in January due to mandates by state authorities where there were concerns around community transmission of the virus.
One area where the effects of the pandemic have continued to restrict activity is in public transport use. Prior to the pandemic, 22.5% of respondents said they used public transport one or more times a week—much higher than was the case in March (14.3%). Comfort in using public transport as a result of Covid has fallen from around 80% before the pandemic to 60% in March.
Low use of public transport is consistent with mobility indicators for transit stations, which remain sharply down on pre-pandemic levels.
However, as public transport use has declined sharply, spending on new vehicles has surged. This trend reflects a broader shift in consumption patterns, with spending diverted away from areas still restricted by the pandemic into goods-related areas, while also highlighting the strength of fiscal and monetary stimulus that has been supporting spending.
