WA final demand grew 3.5%, second-fastest of eight states and territories
State Final Demand in WA reached $325.8bn over the year to June 2026, up 3.5% against a national 3.1% and a 10-year average of 2.0%. The June quarter rose 1.0%, up from 0.4% a year earlier. Per capita demand of $105,229 grew just 1.3%, mid-pack among the eight states and territories. WA's unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in September 2026, below the 10-year average of 4.9% and the national 4.7%. Total employment rose 3.7% over the year, against a national 1.2% and a 10-year average of 2.9%. Full-time employment rose 3.8%, above its 3.3% average, and the rate fell in September after two monthly rises. Against the other states, WA ranks state final demand growth 2nd highest of 8 states (2026-Jun) and unemployment rate 2nd lowest of 6 reporting (2026-Sep).
Cash rate and bond yields, exchange rates and commodities, and equities and superannuation are national series with no state breakdown — see the Australia page.
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The Western Australia economy this week
5 key pointsWA leads the states and territories on population and job ad growth
WA final demand grew 3.5% to $325.8bn in the year to June 2026, 0.4pp faster than the national 3.1%, while population rose 2.1%, the fastest of the eight states and territories. Dwelling approvals rose 14.5% in the year to August, but completions fell 13.0%. Capital house prices rose 18.8% to $1.01m, while capital house sales fell 11.8%. Per capita final demand grew just 1.3%, as population growth diluted gains per person. Unemployment of 4.2% in September 2026 is below the national 4.7%.
1
State Final Demand grew 3.5% in the year to June 2026, 0.4pp faster than the national 3.1% and second-fastest of the eight states and territories.
2
Population grew 2.1% in the year to March 2026, against the national 1.4%, and is the fastest of the eight states and territories.
3
Dwelling approvals per 1,000 people reached 8.6 in the year to August 2026, the highest of the eight states and territories and above the national 7.5.
4
Capital city house prices rose 18.8% in the year to June 2026, against the national 5.5%, equal second-fastest of the eight states and territories.
5
Unemployment was 4.2% in September 2026, 0.5pp below the national 4.7% and second-lowest of the six reporting states.
What X is saying about the Western Australia economy
6 recent postsAustralia is set to build its first new steel mill in more than 35 years, with Generation Steel planning an $850 million facility in Collie, Western Australia.
The proposed plant will use renewable electricity to produce steel from recycled Australian scrap metal.
Generation h
Renters and people living in apartments could save hundreds of dollars on their power bills when WA becomes the first state in Australia to unlock access to the technology, commonly known as "balcony solar".
https://t.co/w5cL5Ti8DI
Northern Star Resources $NST has ordered 25 underground mining units from @SandvikGroup $SAND for its gold operations in Western Australia.
Read more here: https://t.co/hHhqiKHe8Y
#miningnews #asx #resources #mining #underground #equipment #gold #northernstarresources #sandvik
Construction has officially started on the 470 MW Parron Maam Marang wind farm in Western Australia, the biggest to be built in that state so far, and the biggest to start construction in Australia in more than two years. https://t.co/9OdFEWLphb
#GlobalEnergyUpdate | Woodside Introduces Scarborough Gas Into Pluto LNG Train as US$12.5bn Project Reaches 99%
@WoodsideEnergy has introduced Scarborough gas into the warm end of Pluto Train 2 at the Pluto LNG facility in Western Australia, with the Scarborough Energy Project h
Perth house prices fell a record 7.4% last quarter, yet vacancy is under 2% and rents are still rising. That is not a supply glut. It is a credit squeeze at a 4.60% cash rate. When borrowing power returns, the shortage will still be there.
https://t.co/PqQvRi8pGF
Posts about the Western Australia economy from the last 14 days, collected 29 Oct 2026. Each post was matched to its own X status ID before publication. Views are the authors' own.
Economy
GDP & Economic Output
State Final Demand
$325.8bn
+3.5%
Australia $2,753.8bn (+3.1%)
WA as at 2026-Jun
State Final Demand per Capita
$105,229
+1.3%
Australia $98,629 (+1.6%)
WA as at 2026-Jun
WA final demand grew 3.5%, second-fastest of eight states and territories
State Final Demand in WA reached $325.8bn over the year to June 2026, up 3.5% against a national 3.1% and a 10-year average of 2.0%. The June quarter rose 1.0%, up from 0.4% a year earlier. Per capita demand of $105,229 grew just 1.3%, mid-pack among the eight states and territories.
State Final Demand in WA totalled $82.4bn in the June quarter of 2026, with $325.8bn over the rolling year. Quarterly growth of 3.6% sits above the 10-year average of 2.6%, and has picked up from 3.0% a quarter earlier. The June quarter rose 1.0%, against 0.4% in the same quarter of 2025.
Per capita State Final Demand is $105,229 per person annually. While headline growth reached 3.5%, per capita growth was just 1.3%, as population growth of 2.1% over the year to March 2026 diluted gains per person. Per capita demand in the June quarter, at $26,610, was its highest in five years and 7.1% above its 10-year average of $24,839.
WA's 3.5% growth is 0.4pp faster than the national 3.1% and second-fastest of the eight states and territories, behind South Australia's 3.7%. The Northern Territory was slowest at -1.9%. Per capita growth of 1.3% sits mid-pack, below the national 1.6%, with South Australia fastest at 2.7% and the Northern Territory slowest at -3.4%. State GDP is not published; national GDP is on the Australia page.
WA against the other states
2
State Final Demand growth — 2nd highest of 8 states
at 3.5% (2026-Jun)
5
State Final Demand per Capita growth — 5th of 8 states
at 1.3% (2026-Jun)
States are compared on State Final Demand. GDP by state is not published - national GDP is on the Australia page.
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Population & Migration
Population
3,096,222
+2.1%
Australia 27,921,150 (+1.4%)
WA as at 2026-Mar
Net Overseas Migration
41,531
-4.3%
Australia 292,137 (-5.6%)
WA as at 2026-Mar
Net Interstate Migration
10,314
-2,193 people
WA as at 2026-Mar
WA population grew 2.1%, the fastest of the eight states and territories
WA's population reached 3.1 million at March 2026, up 2.1% over the year against a national 1.4% and a 10-year average growth of 1.9%. Interstate migration, at 10.3k, sits 149.6% above its 10-year average, while overseas migration of 41.5k fell 4.3% over the year. Natural increase slowed to 12.8k, the lowest in five years.
WA's population reached 3.1 million as at March 2026, with 2.1% growth over the year, above the 10-year average of 1.9%. Growth has eased from 2.3% a year earlier and was 2.1% in the prior quarter. Population grew 0.7% in the March quarter, the same as in the March quarter of 2025.
Overseas migration added 41.5k persons over the year to March 2026, a fall of 4.3%, but sits 54.4% above its 10-year average of 26.9k and 41.2% below its five-year high of 70.7k. Natural increase added 12.8k persons, 25.2% below its 10-year average of 17.2k, and fell 5.2%. Interstate migration was a net gain of 10.3k persons, 149.6% above its 10-year average of 4.1k, though down 17.5% over the year.
Among the eight states and territories, WA's population growth of 2.1% is the fastest, against the national 1.4%, a gap of 0.7pp. Queensland's 1.6% is next and Tasmania's 0.6% is slowest. Per 1,000 residents, WA's net interstate gain of 3.3 is the highest of the eight, ahead of Queensland's 2.6 per 1,000, while the Northern Territory recorded a net loss of 5.9 per 1,000.
WA against the other states
1
Population growth — Highest of 8 states
at 2.1% (2026-Mar)
1
Net Interstate Migration per 1,000 People — Highest of 8 states
at 3.3 per 1,000 (2026-Mar)
Net interstate migration is ranked per 1,000 residents so it is not simply a ranking of state size. Australia-wide it nets to zero.
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Property
Development Activity
Dwelling Approvals (rolling year)
26,918
+16.7%
Australia 208,219 (+7.5%)
WA as at 2026-Sep
Dwelling Approvals per 1,000 People
8.7 per 1,000
+14.5%
Australia 7.5 per 1,000 (+7.1%)
WA as at 2026-Sep
WA dwelling approvals up 14.5%, highest of eight at 8.6 per 1,000 people
WA recorded 26.5k dwelling approvals in the year to August 2026, up 14.5% against a national 9.5%, and 36.7% above its 10-year average of 19.4k. Approvals per 1,000 people reached 8.6, the highest of the eight states and territories. Commencements rose 13.2%, while completions fell 13.0%, moving opposite to the approvals pipeline.
Dwelling approvals in WA totalled 26.5k in the year to August 2026, 36.7% above the 10-year average of 19.4k. Per 1,000 people, approvals of 8.6 sit above the 10-year average of 7.0. The rolling-year total rose 5.8% in the August quarter, against 0.7% a year earlier, and the annual rate has picked up from 9.0% to 14.5%. Approvals have recovered from a five-year low of 13.5k in August 2023.
Approvals of 26.5k sit 36.7% above their 10-year average, commencements of 25.5k are 35.2% above theirs of 18.9k, and completions of 19.5k are 8.0% above their 18.1k average. Completions fell 13.0% over the year, against a 10-year average growth of -5.0%, so completions have moved opposite to approvals and commencements, which rose 14.5% and 13.2%. Approvals comprise 20.6k houses and 5.9k attached dwellings.
Among the eight states and territories, WA's approvals growth of 14.5% sits mid-pack, against the national 9.5%, with the Northern Territory fastest at 22.5% and Victoria slowest at 2.3%. Per 1,000 people, WA's 8.6 is the highest, ahead of Queensland's 8.3 and above the national 7.5. Commercial approvals value rose 7.2% over the year, with industrial up 14.9% and retail up 14.2%, while office fell 23.4%.
WA against the other states
4
Dwelling Approvals (rolling year) growth — 4th of 8 states
at 16.7% (2026-Sep)
1
Dwelling Approvals per 1,000 People — Highest of 8 states
at 8.7 per 1,000 (2026-Sep)
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Housing Market
Capital City House Price
$1.01m
+18.8%
Australia $1.09m (+5.5%)
WA as at 2026-Jun
Regional House Price
$665k
+20.9%
Australia $745k (+8.9%)
WA as at 2026-Jun
WA capital house prices up 18.8%, equal second-fastest of eight states
WA's capital city median house price reached $1.01m in June 2026, up 18.8% against a national 5.5%, with 10-year average growth of 6.9%. Regional prices rose 20.9% to $665,000, the fastest of the seven reporting states and territories. Capital house sales fell 11.8% over the year, and the capital price-to-income multiple of 8.38 sits above its 10-year average of 6.60.
The median house price in WA's capital city reached $1.01m in June 2026, up 18.8% over the year against 10-year average annual growth of 6.9%. The June quarter rose 0.5%, when a June quarter usually rises about 3.8%, the weakest June quarter in five years, and annual growth slowed from 22.6% a quarter earlier. Regional house prices reached $665,000, up 20.9%, and were unchanged in the June quarter.
Capital city houses are priced at 8.38x annual household income, against a 10-year average of 6.60x, a level in the seriously unaffordable band of 7 to 9x. Attached dwellings in the capitals sit at 6.06x, above their 4.95x average. Regional houses at 5.52x sit in the moderately unaffordable band of 5 to 6x, against a 4.40x average, and regional attached dwellings at 4.31x are more affordable than capital houses.
Capital city house sales fell 11.8% over the year to 24.5k, against 10-year average growth of 0.6%, and sales in the June quarter were below the same quarter a year earlier. Regional house sales of 7.9k fell 9.3%, while capital attached sales fell 15.4% to 11.8k. Against the national capital price rise of 5.5%, WA's 18.8% sits equal second-fastest of the eight states and territories, behind the Northern Territory's 21.4%, with New South Wales slowest at -2.1%.
WA against the other states
2
Capital City House Price growth — Equal 2nd highest of 8 states
at 18.8% (2026-Jun)
1
Regional House Price growth — Highest of 7 reporting
at 20.9% (2026-Jun)
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Housing Finance
Housing Finance Commitments
$11.7bn
+13.5%
Australia $99.0bn (+6.6%)
WA as at 2026-Jun
New-Build Share of Lending
24.4%
+2.7pp
Australia 18.2% (+2.1pp)
WA as at 2026-Jun
WA housing finance up 13.5% to $11.7bn, second-fastest of eight states
Housing finance commitments in WA totalled $11.7bn in June 2026, up 13.5% against a national 6.6%, and 77.5% above the 10-year average of $6.6bn. New builds took a 24.4% share of purchase lending, second-highest of the eight states and territories and above the national 18.2%. Investor commitments of $4.5bn rose 18.5%, and investors held 38.4% of total lending.
Housing finance commitments totalled $11.7bn in June 2026, up 13.5% compared with a year ago, and 77.5% above the 10-year average of $6.6bn. The June quarter rose 11.4%, less than the usual 14.2% for a June quarter, and annual growth slowed from 18.1% a quarter earlier. Lending remains 3.4% below its five-year high of $12.1bn in December 2025.
Owner-occupier lending of $7.2bn accounted for 61.6% of total lending, after growing 10.6% against a 10-year average growth of 6.6%. Investor lending of $4.5bn accounted for 38.4%, after growing 18.5% against a 10-year average of 13.6%. Owner-occupiers held 63.2% a year earlier, and investors held 36.8%. The investor share's 10-year average is 25.8%, so the current share sits 12.6 percentage points above that average.
Lending for new builds, covering construction and newly erected dwellings, totalled $2.9bn, up 27.3%, against $8.9bn for existing dwellings, up 9.7%. The new-build share of 24.40% is above its average since 2019 of 22.66%, and new-build lending grew faster than existing purchases. Owner-occupier new-build lending of $1.8bn rose 25.7% and investor new-build lending of $1.1bn rose 30.1%. Dwelling approvals rose 14.5% over the year to August 2026.
WA against the other states
2
Housing Finance Commitments growth — 2nd highest of 8 states
at 13.5% (2026-Jun)
2
New-Build Share of Lending — 2nd highest of 8 states
at 24.4% (2026-Jun)
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Rental Market
Median Rent (rolling year)
$714/wk
+7.0%
Australia $633/wk (+5.5%) · 2026-Jun
WA as at 2026-Sep
Median Rent Growth
6.6%
-3.2pp
Australia 5.5% (-0.3pp)
WA as at 2026-Jun
Rent as a Share of Earnings
30.8%
+1.2pp
Australia 29.4% (+0.6pp) · 2026-Jun
WA as at 2026-Sep
WA median rent $714/wk, up 7.0% over the rolling year to Sep-26
WA's median rent reached $720/wk in the September 2026 quarter, with the rolling-year median at $714/wk, up 7.0%. Rent growth of 6.6% at June 2026 sits 1.3pp above the national 5.3%, the third-highest of five reporting states. Rent takes 30.8% of full-time earnings, above the national 29.3%, and CPI rents rose 5.4%.
The median rent in WA reached $720/wk in the September quarter of 2026, with $714/wk on a rolling-year basis. The rolling-year median rose 7.0%, up from 6.5% a quarter earlier but below the 7.8% of a year earlier. The spot median fell 0.7% in the September quarter, against a 0.1% rise a year earlier, and sits 34.4% above its 10-year average of $536/wk. The national rolling median of $632/wk is at June 2026.
Capital-city rents of $723/wk on a rolling-year basis sit 8.40% above the rest of the state, at $667/wk. Regional rents are growing faster, with the rolling-year figure up 10.2% against 6.5% in the capital. WA's house and unit medians are not published here, so no house versus unit comparison can be drawn.
New bonds lodged totalled 76.5k over the rolling year to September 2026, down 1.3% and above the 10-year average of 74.6k. Median rent growth of 6.6% at June 2026 is the third-highest of five reporting states, with Tasmania highest at 9.5% and New South Wales lowest at 5.6%. CPI rents rose 5.4% against 3.7% for all groups at June 2026, and WA's rent share of earnings is second-highest of five states at June 2026, behind New South Wales. Victoria's figures are the latest published, from the September 2025 quarter.
WA against the other states
3
Median Rent Growth — 3rd highest of 5 reporting
at 6.6% (2026-Jun)
4
Rent as a Share of Earnings — 2nd highest of 5 reporting
at 30.2% (2026-Jun)
Not in this comparison: VIC (latest 2025-Sep), NT (no data), ACT (no data). Rent series are published on different schedules by each state. Every rank here is taken at one common quarter; states without a value at that quarter are listed with their own latest period instead.
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Jobs & wages
Employment
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
-0.1pp
Australia 4.7% (+0.3pp)
WA as at 2026-Sep
Total Employment
1.71m
+3.7%
Australia 14.78m (+1.2%)
WA as at 2026-Sep
WA unemployment 4.2% in Sep-26, second-lowest of six reporting states
WA's unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in September 2026, below the 10-year average of 4.9% and the national 4.7%. Total employment rose 3.7% over the year, against a national 1.2% and a 10-year average of 2.9%. Full-time employment rose 3.8%, above its 3.3% average, and the rate fell in September after two monthly rises.
The unemployment rate in WA stands at 4.2% as at September 2026, below the 10-year average of 4.9%. It fell 0.23pp in September, the first monthly fall after two rises, and is 0.01pp lower over three months. The rate sits 0.37pp below its five-year high of 4.59% in November 2025, having risen from a five-year low of 3.04% in April 2022.
Total employment reached 1.71m persons, up 3.7% (60,916 persons) over the year, above the 10-year average growth of 2.9%. Full-time employment of 1.20m rose 3.8% (43,739 persons), above its 3.3% average. The labour force of 1.78m rose 3.6%, and unemployed persons rose 1.7%, against a 10-year average growth of -1.0%.
Against the national 4.7%, WA's 4.2% is 0.5pp lower and the second-lowest of six reporting states, behind South Australia. Victoria is highest at 5.0%. WA's employment growth of 3.7% is the fastest of the six reporting states, 2.5pp faster than the national 1.2%, with Queensland next at 1.3% and Tasmania slowest at -3.0%. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are not in this comparison.
WA against the other states
2
Unemployment Rate — 2nd lowest of 6 reporting
at 4.2% (2026-Sep)
1
Total Employment growth — Highest of 6 reporting
at 3.7% (2026-Sep)
Not in this comparison: NT (latest 2026-Mar), ACT (latest 2026-Mar).
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Job Advertisements
Job Advertisements
83,754
+6.8%
Australia 632,452 (+0.3%)
WA as at 2026-Sep
WA job ads 83,754 in Sep-26, up 6.8%, fastest of the eight states
Job advertisements in WA totalled 83,754 in September 2026, up 6.8% against a national 0.3%, and 20.6% above their 10-year average of 69.4k. Industrial ads rose 13.4% and professional ads 3.6%. Job ads remain 15.7% below their 99.4k peak in June 2023, and rose 3.4% in the September quarter.
Job advertisements in WA totalled 83,754 in September 2026, 20.6% above the 10-year average of 69.4k. They remain 15.7% below the five-year high of 99.4k reached in June 2023. Job ads rose 3.4% in the September quarter, after falling 0.3% in June, and are 6.8% higher than a year ago.
Professional job ads of 20.3k sit 13.0% above their 10-year average of 17.9k, but grew 3.6%, below their 7.8% average growth. Industrial ads of 26.0k sit 32.4% above their 19.7k average and grew 13.4%, above their 11.4% average growth. Sales ads of 3.9k sit 23.0% above their 3.2k average, growing 7.6% against 6.4%. Industrial ads are the furthest above their average in level.
WA's job ads growth of 6.8% compares with 0.3% nationally, 6.5pp faster, and is the fastest of the eight states and territories, with South Australia next at 3.2%. The Northern Territory is slowest at -6.9%. Within WA, industrial advertising has led the growth, rising 4.5% in the September quarter.
WA against the other states
1
Job Advertisements growth — Highest of 8 states
at 6.8% (2026-Sep)
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Wages & Earnings
Wage Price Index
161.1
+3.3%
Australia 161.2 (+3.2%)
WA as at 2026-Jun
Full-Time Weekly Earnings
$2,318
+2.7%
Australia $2,157 (+3.5%)
WA as at 2026-May
WA wages up 3.3% over the year to June 2026, equal third-fastest of eight
Wages grew 3.3% over the year to June 2026 as measured by the Wage Price Index, above the 10-year average of 2.5% and down from 3.7% a year earlier. Full-time weekly earnings of $2,318 grew 2.7%, against a national 3.5%. Real wages fell 0.4 percentage points over the year to June 2026.
Wages grew 3.3% over the year to June 2026, as measured by the Wage Price Index, above the 10-year average wage growth of 2.5%. The rate is down from 3.6% in the March quarter and 3.7% a year earlier. The June quarter rose 0.5%, when a June quarter usually rises about 0.8%, the weakest June quarter in five years.
Average full-time weekly earnings are $2,318 per week, or $120,156 per year for full-time workers, with annual earnings growth of 2.7% against a 10-year average of 2.5%. Real wages fell 0.4 percentage points over the year to June 2026, with wage growth of 3.3% and inflation over the same twelve months of 3.7%.
Among the eight states and territories, WA's wage growth of 3.3% is 0.1pp faster than the national 3.2% and equal third-fastest, with South Australia fastest at 3.6% and the Northern Territory slowest at 2.8%. WA's full-time weekly earnings of $2,318 are 7.5% above the national $2,156, but grew 0.8pp slower than the national 3.5% to May 2026.
WA against the other states
3
Wage Price Index growth — Equal 3rd highest of 8 states
at 3.3% (2026-Jun)
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Households
Household Consumption
Household Consumption
$40.2bn
+2.4%
WA as at 2026-Jun
Household Consumption per Capita
$12,986
+0.3%
WA as at 2026-Jun
WA household consumption up 2.4% to $40.2bn, just below 10-year average
Household consumption expenditure in WA totalled $40.2bn in June 2026, up 2.4% over the year against 10-year average growth of 2.5%. Per capita consumption of $12,986 grew 0.3%, equal third-slowest of the eight states and territories. Food rose 2.7% and health 4.9%, above their averages, while all four discretionary categories grew below theirs.
Household consumption expenditure totalled $40.2bn in the June quarter of 2026, up 2.4% over the year, against 3.4% a year earlier and 2.9% three months earlier. That is just below the 10-year average growth of 2.5%. Per capita consumption of $12,986 grew 0.3%, slower than 0.8% a year earlier, and sits 3.7% above its 10-year average of $12,518. These are National Accounts figures.
Essentials are mixed: food grew 2.7% against a 10-year average of 1.2%, health 4.9% against 4.1%, and transport fell 0.4% against 4.8%. Rent and dwellings grew 2.2% against 2.4%, and power and utilities fell 1.4% against 2.5%, after a 5.4% rise in the June quarter. Discretionary categories all grew below their averages: recreation 2.7% against 3.2%, clothing 1.6% against 3.5%, cafes and restaurants 2.3% against 2.8%, and alcohol and tobacco fell 2.6% against 0.7%.
WA's per capita consumption growth of 0.3% is equal third-slowest of the eight states and territories, with Tasmania fastest at 1.5% and Victoria slowest at 0.0%. No national comparator is published for this measure. Food spending rose 0.4% in the June quarter, its highest in five years.
WA against the other states
6
Household Consumption per Capita growth — Equal 3rd lowest of 8 states
at 0.3% (2026-Jun)
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Household Spending
Household Spending
$29.3bn
+9.4%
Australia $246.9bn (+6.7%)
WA as at 2026-Sep
Household Spending per Capita
$9,468
+8.3%
Australia $8,841 (+5.9%)
WA as at 2026-Sep
WA per-person spending up 8.3%, second-fastest of eight states and territories
WA spending reached $29.3bn in the three months to September 2026, up 9.4% on a year ago against a 10-year average of 6.1%. Per-person growth of 8.3% is 2.4pp above Australia's 5.9%, second-fastest of the eight states and territories. Clothing fell 0.6% over the latest three months, the only category to drop.
Household spending in Western Australia totalled $29.3bn in the three months to September 2026, up 9.4% compared to a year ago. This is above average growth of 6.1%. Spending per person was $9,468 in the three months to September 2026, 29.9% above the 10-year average of $7,289, and annual growth picked up from 5.9% to 8.3% over the latest three months. Spending per person was $3,176 in September 2026, and $37,254 per person annually.
Clothing was the only category to fall, down 0.6% over the latest three months, though it remains 7.5% higher on the year. Transport rose 8.3% over the latest three months, the largest rise since September 2022, and is up 12.8% on the year against a 10-year average of 8.5%. Recreation is furthest above average, at 11.8% against 6.0%. Food is up 5.9% on the year, only just above its 10-year average of 5.6%, so essentials are not clearly outpacing discretionary spending. Alcohol and tobacco rose 4.7% over the latest three months, the largest rise in at least five years, and is up 5.7% on the year against a 10-year average of 0.8%.
Over the three months to September 2026, WA spending per person was $9,468 against Australia's $8,841, 7.1% above the national figure. Total WA spending grew 9.4% over the year against Australia's 6.7%, 2.7pp faster. Per-person growth of 8.3% ranks WA second-fastest of the eight states and territories, behind the Northern Territory at 10.7% and ahead of the Australian Capital Territory at 4.1%.
WA against the other states
2
Household Spending per Capita growth — 2nd highest of 8 states
at 8.3% (2026-Sep)
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Inflation & Cost of Living
Consumer Price Index
104.5
+4.5%
Australia 104.3 (+4.3%)
WA as at 2026-Sep
Housing CPI
105.0
+5.0%
Australia 105.2 (+5.2%)
WA as at 2026-Sep
WA inflation 4.5% in the year to Sep-26, mid-pack among eight states
Inflation in WA was 4.5% in the year to September 2026, above the 10-year average of 3.3% and the national 4.3%. Transport costs rose 10.4%, well above their 4.1% average, while clothing and furnishings eased. Housing CPI rose 5.0%, the second-slowest of the eight states and territories, and real wages fell 0.4 percentage points to June 2026.
Inflation in WA was 4.5% in the year to September 2026, above the 10-year average of 3.3%. It remains above the RBA's 2-3% target band. The annual rate rose from 4.3% in August to 4.5% in September, as prices rose 0.6% in the month, against 0.4% a year earlier. Over three months prices rose 2.3%, and the rate sits well below its five-year high of 8.3% in December 2022.
Cost pressures are led by transport, up 10.4% against a 10-year average of 4.1%, and recreation and culture, up 5.5% against 2.6%. Education rose 5.3% against 3.3%, and housing rose 5.0% against 4.3%. Relief came from clothing and footwear, which fell 3.2% in September against a usual fall of 0.4%, and furnishings and household goods, which fell 1.2%. Insurance and financial services rose 0.9%, below its 2.9% average.
Against the national 4.3%, WA's 4.5% is 0.2pp higher and mid-pack among the eight states and territories. Housing CPI of 5.0% is 0.2pp below the national 5.2% and second-slowest of the eight, with Victoria slowest at 3.8% and the Northern Territory fastest at 7.6%. Set against wage growth of 3.3% and inflation of 3.7% over the twelve months to June 2026, real wages fell 0.4 percentage points, a different month from the September headline CPI.
WA against the other states
4
Consumer Price Index growth — 4th of 8 states
at 4.5% (2026-Sep)
2
Housing CPI growth — 2nd lowest of 8 states
at 5.0% (2026-Sep)
CPI is ranked lowest to highest. A low reading is not automatically a good outcome - it is stated as a position, not a verdict.
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