The figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed a partial recovery from the 3.0% fall seen in the March quarter.

Strong sharemarket performance was the main driver of the increase, with superannuation balances (5.4%) and directly held shares (3.0%) posting strong growth.

Household deposits increased by $33.4 billion to be up 2.4%, as government income support packages like JobKeeper and early access to superannuation boosted many people's incomes. 

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Provider

4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
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Savings Account

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure
400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure

Savings Accelerator

  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Earn up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • No account fees
  • Easy access to your money
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AMP Saver Account

  • Earn up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • No account fees
  • Easy access to your money
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010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure

Savings Maximiser

  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
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Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of October 24, 2024. View disclaimer.

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Population growth helped total household wealth increase 1.5%, partially reversing the 2.5% fall felt in the March quarter. 

Head of Finance and Wealth at the ABS, Amanda Seneviratne, said the figures demonstrated the bounceback in the economy as the nation grappled with the coronavirus. 

"The June quarter 2020 financial accounts reflect the recovery of the Australian and international financial markets as the economic impacts of COVID-19 became more evident, and government and RBA policies took effect," Ms Seneviratne said. 

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Source: ABS

Many households used the pandemic as a way to get on top of their finances, with a $5.4 billion reduction of short term debt.

This reduction was driven by a continued trend of households using alternative methods of credit to credit cards, as well as paying down personal loans. 

The largest offsets to household wealth were seen in house prices falling due to economic uncertainity and social distance measures, as well as a rise in housing loans. 

There was an almost $84 billion fall in land and dwellings wealth and a rise of over $14 billion in housing loans. 

The increase in loan amounts was driven by households taking advantage of record low interest rates to refinance mortgages to larger amounts, as well as interest accruing on deferred loan repayments. 

More to come..