Brief mortgage relief sparks savings surge among Australian borrowers ahead of new borrowing costs

High-growth firms are 3x more likely than moderate-growth firms to rate their digital presence as very or extremely effective.

Capacity constraints are holding back 70% of accounting firms, but high-growth practices are finding ways around it.

Accounting firms are prioritising document extraction and automating transaction coding in the next 3-6 months, marketing support in the next 12.

Nearly half of accountants are now using AI in their practice, but they are more open to using built-in AI than standalone tools

Firm size and capacity drives AI governance and adoption of legal tech AI, while smaller firms catch up as AI use becomes rampant.

The decline in inflation paved diverging paths, as mortgage holders shift to saving, and consumer debt holders shift to debt repayment in this time of relief.

Australians are feeling mixed about their finances this year - mortgage holders are less anxious, but debt-free households are wary.

Australian non-homeowners are splitting between two camps - more are planning to purchase in the next year while more are also abandoning homeownership entirely.

50% of females aged 35-54 feel increasingly anxious, Australians feel more anxious across all debt statuses

Households prioritising day-to-day expenses rose 4 percentage points since September to 28%, while those focused on savings fell from 49% to 44%.

Home ownership is highest among couples, and families with dependent children show the strongest buying intent for 2026.

Financial confidence fell among Australians aged 55+.