There are positive signs consumers are opening their wallets as restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus are eased.

Senior ANZ economists Adelaide Timbrell and David Plank said spending on groceries and household goods such as televisions remained well up on the same period last year while there were now signs of a recovery in areas such as fashion.
Online spending, which last month was 20 per cent up on 2019, was now about 15 per cent in front.
Expenditure on dining, largely through takeaway services, was 30 per cent lower than a year ago. In mid-April, it was down by 54 per cent.
Ms Timbrell and Mr Plank said spending was “rapidly” improving in Western Australia and Queensland as a result of easing restrictions while Victoria was the weakest state.
But there remained longer-term issues for the entire retail sector.
“We expect spending to spike each time lockdown restrictions ease, but the longer-term trend of retail spending is likely to be weak, reflecting reduced incomes and financial stability for many households,” they said.
CBA said spending on transport, clothing and education were all at least 30 per cent down on the same period last year but had improved on where they were in April. Personal care, recreation and medical spending was also down.
But food and alcohol spending remained up while expenditure on household furnishings was 53 per cent up on the same period.
CBA also found spending in Queensland and WA was improving ahead of the rest of the country.
CBA economists Belinda Allen and Nicolas Guesnon cautioned that the sharp uptick might be partially due to a change in payment habits caused by the coronavirus.
“A preference for contactless payment and spending online rather than cash and instore spending, to help control the transmission of the virus, could also be overestimating the improved momentum,” they said.
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Shane is a senior economics correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.