Wednesday morning. Day 3 of the fuel excise passthrough and the retail rebase bites at metropolitan pumps. National average unleaded was 1 dollar 97 cents per litre at day one Monday, per NRMA data cited by the Sydney Morning Herald, and Sydney and Melbourne sites step higher through today as the standard Wednesday cycle rebase compounds the excise passthrough. The gap between the cheapest E10 and dearest Premium 98 has hit a record 26 point 5 cents per litre, up from 17 point 4 cents in 2012 per NRMA analysis. Tomorrow Thursday 6 August at 11:30am AEST brings the Q2 Wage Price Index from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the last major macro print before the RBA cash rate decision at 2:30pm AEST on Tuesday 11 August. Priced In News shows the no change consensus at 97 per cent. Today’s Top 5 opens with Decjuba at up to 70 per cent off women’s fashion.
Fuel Day Three: Wednesday Retail Rebase Bites
Day 3 of the excise passthrough and the Wednesday retail cycle rebase catches Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan pumps at exactly the wrong moment for household budgets. National average unleaded pump prices were 1 dollar 97 cents per litre at the day one Monday reading and diesel was 2 dollars 39 point 2 cents per litre, per Nine Newspapers on 3 August 2026 citing NRMA analysis. NRMA also flagged that wholesale prices on Monday jumped to 2 dollars 1 point 5 cents per litre for unleaded and 2 dollars 43 cents per litre for diesel, meaning metropolitan retail sites still selling through pre-excise inventory on Monday and Tuesday are now working through wholesale stock that carries the full 53 point 7 cents per litre excise. Peak forecast pump prices remain at 2 dollars 20 per litre unleaded and 2 dollars 60 per litre diesel by mid August, per RACQ principal economist Ian Jeffreys via ABC News on 2 August 2026.
The record gap between cheapest and dearest unleaded is telling. NRMA reports the price spread from E10 at the cheap end to Premium 98 at the dear end has reached 26 point 5 cents per litre, up from 17 point 4 cents per litre in 2012. That is a record high. For household budgets it means the choice of fuel grade and site can now save more than 26 cents per litre, or roughly 14 dollars 30 cents on a 55 litre fill. In a metropolitan Wednesday cycle rebase, that price spread magnifies. The Australian Automobile Association’s website is silent this morning but the state fuel apps remain the strongest tool for finding a genuine cycle bottom. Use Fuel Check NSW or FuelWatch WA which locks tomorrow’s prices today, plus MotorMouth and PetrolSpy in every state.
Best Wednesday Fuel Actions Right Now
Three practical actions this Wednesday morning while the passthrough compounds. First, if the primary vehicle can be filled this morning, use a fuel finder app for a 5 kilometre scan and take the cheapest independent site with E10 or 91 unleaded available. The 26 point 5 cent record spread between fuel grades means E10 or 91 unleaded is now the household budget play, provided the vehicle handbook supports it. Do not run E10 in a vehicle that does not accept it. Second, use 7 Eleven Fuel Lock to snap the current price for a second tank later in the week. The tool locks the current price for seven days at any nominated 7 Eleven site.
Third, run the state fuel apps in parallel. Fuel Check NSW for New South Wales and ACT, FuelWatch WA for Western Australia, MyFuel NT for the Northern Territory, FuelCheck TAS for Tasmania. Queenslanders use MotorMouth or PetrolSpy directly. Compare all tools before committing. WA is uniquely powerful because FuelWatch locks tomorrow’s prices at 2:30pm the day before, giving Western Australian drivers a full 24 hour price window to plan around.
Wage Price Index Tomorrow: Last Macro Gate
Tomorrow Thursday 6 August at 11:30am AEST the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases the June quarter Wage Price Index. It is the final major macro print before the RBA cash rate decision at 2:30pm AEST on Tuesday 11 August. The March quarter WPI printed 0 point 8 per cent quarterly, 3 point 3 per cent year on year, per the ABS price indexes and inflation hub. Bond and rate strategists watch the WPI as the cleanest read on how sticky domestic wage pressures remain, which flows directly into service inflation and the RBA’s tolerance for holding rates through November.
A soft print, below 0 point 8 per cent quarterly, reinforces the emerging Big Four consensus that the tightening cycle is finished. A hot print above 1 per cent quarterly keeps the November hike scenario alive. RBA chief economist Sarah Hunter told ABC’s The Business on 30 July 2026 that domestic inflation pressures remain and it is “critical that inflation expectations remain contained”, the exact reason the market is watching WPI so closely. Priced In News now shows the market pricing an 11 August hold at 97 per cent per Priced In News on 29 July 2026, with a hike at 2 per cent and cuts at 0 per cent. Interbank overnight indexed swap markets are at 4 per cent hike probability per Commerzbank economist Volkmar Baur via TMGM on 29 July 2026. Governor Michele Bullock’s post decision statement next Tuesday will be the key signal for the November gate.
Household Spending Resilient +0.8 Per Cent June
Contrary to the six week low in consumer confidence reported by Roy Morgan last week, households actually spent more in June. The ABS Monthly Household Spending Indicator released Monday shows spending rose 0 point 8 per cent in June to 81 point 3 billion dollars per Reuters on 4 August 2026. The annual pace lifted to 6 per cent, a three month high. June quarter spending rose 0 point 7 per cent in real terms to 227 point 8 billion dollars. Tom Lay, ABS head of business statistics, singled out new vehicle sales rising 3 per cent as the standout within transport, with electric vehicle sales driving the momentum.
The spending resilience against weakening sentiment is the exact backdrop retailers are pitching winter clearance into. Australian shoppers are still spending discretionary dollars, but Roy Morgan’s tracking shows 39 per cent now actively delay purchases until major sale events, up sharply from a year ago. That means when a genuinely deep discount lands, like today’s Decjuba 70 per cent off winter women’s fashion, the intent to convert is unusually strong. Retailers know it and are matching the intent with the deepest single day clearance discounts of the year.
Grocery Watch: Aldi Wins Basket At 74 Dollars
A cross retailer grocery basket comparison this week from Cuugo Grocery Price Index shows Aldi at 74 dollars 53 cents for a standard weekly basket, Coles at 72 dollars 25 cents, Woolworths at 79 dollars 25 cents, and IGA at 101 dollars 2 cents. All three majors are down week on week: Woolworths 3 dollars 12 cents cheaper, Coles 4 dollars 40 cents cheaper, Aldi 2 dollars 63 cents cheaper. The multi store savings arbitrage is stark: buying every item at whichever store sells it cheapest this week costs 61 dollars 67 cents, saving 12 dollars 86 cents against even the cheapest single store total.
The live basket comparison at ShopHop shows Aldi wins 15 of 20 common basket items. Chicken breast is 3 dollars 99 cents at Aldi versus 9 dollars 43 cents at Woolworths. Beef mince 500 grams is 6 dollars 29 cents at Aldi versus 12 dollars at Coles. Tasty cheese 500 grams is 7 dollars 49 cents at Aldi versus 11 dollars 20 cents at Woolworths. On non promotional pricing, Coles is 4 to 6 per cent cheaper than Woolworths for fresh produce this week, verified in cart in Melbourne postcode 3000, per ShopBack on 30 July 2026. For households running a genuine budget target, the multi store shop, or the Aldi backbone plus Coles fresh top up, remains the strongest weekly play.
Wednesday Top 5 Deals
Discount
DecjubaWomen's WearUp to 70 per cent off Decjuba: dresses, tops, knitwear, coats, denim, tailoring and accessories from the Melbourne founded women’s fashion label established in 2008, with Afterpay, Zip, PayPal, and free Australia wide shipping over 100 dollars.70%OFF2
Colette HaymanFashionUp to 69 per cent off Colette Hayman: handbags, wallets, jewellery, sunglasses, hats and hair accessories from the Sydney founded fashion accessories retailer trading since 1994, with Afterpay, Zip and free click and collect at over 60 Australian stores.69%OFF3
Academy BrandMen's WearUp to 60 per cent off Academy Brand: chinos, jeans, shirts, jumpers, jackets, tees and accessories from the Australian owned men’s fashion label established in 2009, with Afterpay, Zip and free Australia wide shipping over 100 dollars.60%OFF4
MyerDepartment StoresUp to 60 per cent off Myer: women’s fashion, men’s clothing, beauty, homewares, kitchenware, small appliances, toys and accessories from Australia’s iconic department store trading since 1900, with Afterpay, Zip, MyerOne, click and collect.60%OFF5
Robert GordonHomewaresUp to 60 per cent off Robert Gordon: hand thrown Australian pottery, dinnerware, mugs, jugs, planters and homewares from the Melbourne pottery studio and family run business trading since 1946, with Afterpay and free Australia wide shipping over 150 dollars.60%OFFEvery store in Wednesday’s Top 5 is Australian owned or locally fulfilled. Every discount was verified against the store’s own live sale page this morning. None of it is Temu, Shein, AliExpress, Wish or any offshore marketplace dressed up as a local brand. Every product ships from an Australian warehouse and is backed by the Australian Consumer Law. Decjuba at up to 70 per cent off is the outright winner this Wednesday morning, with the Melbourne founded women’s fashion label running deep clearance across dresses, tops, knitwear, coats, denim, tailoring and accessories. Colette Hayman at up to 69 per cent off runs handbags, wallets, jewellery, sunglasses, hats and hair accessories from the Sydney founded fashion accessories retailer trading since 1994. Academy Brand at up to 60 per cent off holds chinos, jeans, shirts, jumpers and jackets from the Australian owned men’s fashion label established in 2009. Myer at up to 60 per cent off delivers women’s fashion, men’s clothing, beauty, homewares and small appliances from Australia’s iconic department store trading since 1900. Robert Gordon at up to 60 per cent off runs hand thrown Australian pottery, dinnerware, mugs, jugs and planters from the Melbourne pottery studio family business trading since 1946.
Other Deals Worth A Look
Beyond the Top 5, a handful of other Australian owned or locally fulfilled retailers are worth a Wednesday scroll as the fuel passthrough grinds toward peak. Australian Leather (today’s Top 6 ticker pick) holds up to 50 per cent off Australian made Ugg boots. Portmans is at up to 50 per cent off tailoring, dresses, tops and denim from the Australian owned women’s fashion label. Lee Mathews is at 40 per cent off tops, dresses and knitwear from the Sydney designer label. General Pants is at 30 per cent off youth fashion from the Australian owned denim specialist. Veronika Maine is at 30 per cent off tailoring, dresses and coats. All Australian owned or locally fulfilled, all backed by the Australian Consumer Law.
Week Ahead
Four dates matter for Australian shopper wallets this week. Wednesday 5 August today: Day 3 of the fuel excise passthrough with Sydney and Melbourne metro cycle rebase compounding today. Thursday 6 August at 11:30am AEST: the June quarter Wage Price Index lands from the ABS, the last major macro print before the RBA meeting. Friday 8 August: the RBA finalises its August Statement on Monetary Policy for release with the decision. Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 August: the RBA cash rate decision. Announcement at 2:30pm AEST on Tuesday 11 August, overwhelmingly priced by markets and all Big Four as a hold at 4 point 35 per cent. Mid August between 15 and 20 August: retailers pivot from deep winter clearance to fresh spring stock, so hold discretionary fashion purchases where timing allows for the transition sale window.
Our Take
Wednesday 5 August is Day 3 of a two speed shopping week. On the wallet drag side, the Sydney and Melbourne metro Wednesday retail cycle rebase compounds today with the excise passthrough. The record 26 point 5 cent gap between the cheapest E10 and dearest Premium 98 unleaded is the strongest signal yet that fuel grade choice and site choice now materially matter for a household budget. Where the vehicle handbook allows, drop from Premium to 91 or E10 for this week’s fills. Use 7 Eleven Fuel Lock to snap the current price on a second tank later in the week. On the wallet ease side, the RBA hold on Tuesday 11 August is now 97 per cent priced. Household spending is holding up despite Roy Morgan showing consumer confidence at a six week low. Aldi is winning the weekly grocery basket at 74 dollars 53 cents against Woolworths 79 dollars 25 cents and IGA 101 dollars 2 cents. Retailers are simultaneously running the deepest winter apparel clearance of the year, exactly the window Roy Morgan flagged with 39 per cent of Australian shoppers now delaying purchases until major sale events.
That is exactly why It’s On Sale exists. We track 35,000 Australian stores and 45,000 live sale products, every retailer Australian owned or locally fulfilled, every promotion audited daily against the store’s own price history. No trial traps, no hidden fees, no offshore marketplaces dressed up as a local brand. Today’s Sales shows every store currently running a discount in one place. The AI search reads the way real shoppers ask (try “women’s winter clearance” or “australian pottery homewares”). None of it is Temu, Shein, AliExpress, Wish or any offshore marketplace dressed up as a local brand. Browse Today’s Sales this Wednesday morning to make your money go further with Australian retailers who stand behind the ticket and the Australian Consumer Law.