Australia's consumer sentiment experienced a notable increase in August, with the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Confidence Index rising by 5.7% month-over-month to 98.5, marking its highest level since early 2022. This improvement follows three interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) this year, which have contributed to a more positive outlook among households and the broader economy. The RBA has also indicated the possibility of further monetary easing. The rise in consumer confidence has been accompanied by an increase in Australian government bond yields. In the United Kingdom, consumer confidence has also improved, reaching its highest level since the October budget announcement.