Australia's consumer confidence has fallen at its sharpest monthly rate since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Westpac-Melbourne Institute sentiment index, as surging petrol prices triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran rattle household finances. Australians are cutting back on restaurant meals, food deliveries, and discretionary travel, with many opting for cheaper menu choices or avoiding dining out altogether, while some are turning to buy-now pay-later services to cover basic costs such as fuel and groceries. Economists warn that the rapid shift in spending behaviour — compounded by simultaneous interest rate rises — suggests many households had not fully recovered financially from the pandemic before the new crisis hit.