Australia’s Consumer Sentiment Rises in ‘Cautious Pessimism’

Australia’s consumer confidence edged up in June as the conflicting moves of lower interest rates and cool inflation ran up against slow growth and ongoing trade upheavals to place households in a holding pattern.

Sentiment advanced 0.5% to 92.6 points, a Westpac Banking Corp. survey showed Tuesday. While better, the result still means pessimists outweigh optimists with the dividing line at 100.