Most Australians happy to venture out again

Three in four Australians are back to shopping in physical stores, and a similar proportion planning to spend more eating out.

Shoppers are returning to stores as lockdown eases. Picture: AAP.

Australians are increasingly comfortable getting back out and about, with three in four shopping in physical stores, and a similar proportion saying they either had or intended to spend more eating out at cafes and restaurants.

The easing of social distancing restrictions since mid-May has allowed establishments to allow a growing number of customers to dine in and shop, and the latest report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics suggests people have taken up the opportunity to go out with some gusto.

More than three quarters of people also said they had, or intended to, use public recreational areas, including beaches, parks and playgrounds.

The household impacts of COVID-19 survey was conducted over the week to mid-June, and so predate the recent spike in virus cases in Melbourne.

In a positive sign for the tourism industry, more than half of Australians said they intended to go on a domestic holiday, with one in five of those planning a trip by mid-July, and two thirds within six months.

But the survey also showed that only 29 per cent of respondents said they intend to go on an overseas holiday once international borders reopen, flagging the extended hit to international travel even beyond the lifting of the travel ban.

While the deep freeze associated with the health crisis may be thawing, there remains a way to go before anything like business as usual.

During restrictions close to 90 per cent of Australians spent less on dining out and transport, nearly 80 per cent spent less on leisure activities, such as going to cinemas or the gym, and three quarters cut back on public transport.

But of those which had reduced spending during the pandemic and associated shutdowns, three quarters said they expected to lift spending on recreation activities, eating out and private transport, including on expenses such as petrol. Only 55 per cent said they expected to spend more on public transport.