NSW THE NATION’S MOST OPTIMISTIC STATE

Consumers in NSW continue to be the most optimistic in the nation, according to the latest consumer sentiment survey.

Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian welcomed today’s Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment report that showed confidence in NSW jumping 2.4 per cent in October to 101.7.

One hundred is the point above which optimists outnumber pessimists.

“This is yet another sign that consumer confidence is strong in NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We are the only state that has more optimists than pessimists and we remain above the national average.”

NSW consumer sentiment has been above the national average for 12 out of the last 13 months.

The strong result comes off the back of Ms Berejiklian’s visit to Parramatta on Wednesday where she met with the local business community at a Western Sydney business forum.

“The message I received from Western Sydney businesses was loud and clear: outdated Boxing Day trading rules must be modernised,” she said.

“It is unfair that residents of the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney get to access the Boxing Day sales while those in Western Sydney do not. It is also unfair that some businesses in regional NSW can open and some cannot.

“The NSW Government committed at the March election to amend retail trading laws to allow all shops to trade on Boxing Day and we will honour that promise.”