April holidays: foliage, food and family trips

Heading out on a family holiday and eating out at restaurants are two of the drivers we’re expecting will propel customer spending up to $6.12 billion during this year’s Easter, School Holidays and ANZAC Day period.​

“The Eating Out and Food Stores categories are central to spending and contribute $566.7 million (9.54 per cent) and $953.9 million (16.06 per cent), respectively.”

With the public holidays falling closer together in 2025, and Australians getting savvy with their annual leave, we’re predicting many will make the most of an extended break. The projected growth is forecasted at 3 per cent, driven by the increase in pre-event spending.​

​We expect our customers to spend more on Travel & Experiences, Eating Out, and at Food Stores, which were the key spending categories last year, contributing around 33 per cent of the overall spend​.

In 2024, total spend increased by 5.2 per cent, reaching $5.94 billion during the period covering School Holidays, Easter, and ANZAC Day, compared to 2023.​

State of spending

​In 2024, Victorians spent the most overall during the period at $1.64 billion​.

​The Northern Territory and Western Australia had the largest year-on-year increase in spend, with 8.8 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively ​

Western Australia had the highest spend per capita, $1,830, with a year-on-year increase of 4.7 per cent.

During this period in 2024, Australians spent more on eating out, with the total spend on takeaway food, cafes and restaurants increasing by 5.26 per cent, over the prior year​.

The Eating Out and Food Stores categories are central to spending and contribute $566.7 million (9.54 per cent) and $953.9 million (16.06 per cent), respectively.

Spending on the menu

Victoria spent the most on eating out during the School Holidays, Easter, and ANZAC Day period in 2024. They had the highest spend per capita ($236.2) on takeaway food, cafes and restaurants which increased slightly by 0.35 per cent, over the prior year​.

Queensland and the Northern Territory enjoyed getting out and about with the biggest increase in spend on eating out over the prior year - an increase of 10.91 per cent and 10.38 per cent, respectively​.

While it looks like Tasmanians opted to gather at home over the period with the least spend per capita ($187.50) on eating out.

​Holiday getaway

In 2024, total spend on Travel & Experiences category increased marginally by 0.54 per cent, over the prior year​.

​Western Australia and Queensland saw the largest increase in spending on the category compared to the previous year, with increases of 7.02 per cent and 6.80 per cent, respectively​.

Travel & Experiences contributes $424.8 million (7.12 per cent). ​The category consists of Airlines, Travel Services, and Hotels/Inns/Resorts​

In 2024, ACT had the highest spend per capita on “Travel & Experiences” category with each spending an average of $648. However, this was a 3.46 per cent decrease compared to 2023​.

Western Australia and the Northern Territory had the biggest increase in spend per capita on Travel & Experiences over the prior year, with an increase of 2.86 per cent and 0.31 per cent, respectively​.

Yiken Yang is Managing Director, Everyday Banking, ANZ