Daily metrics on energy use, traffic congestion, consumer spending and unemployment are showing a dramatic contraction of economic activity in Australia as social distancing restrictions take effect.

Daily consumption of energy tapered off on Thursday, traffic congestion in Sydney and Melbourne this week is down more than 30 per cent on last year's average, and site traffic to Centrelink has surged 500 per cent in five days, with the key search phrase being "JobSeeker payment".