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January delivered a confident start to 2026 for the Hawkesbury, with new figures from Hawkesbury City Council revealing residents and visitors spent a combined $147.5 million locally during the month.
The data paints a picture of a community backing its local businesses, while also embracing online shopping and welcoming a steady flow of visitors.
Local spending on the rise
Resident local spending reached $95.2 million, marking a 1.35 per cent increase compared with January 2025.
Visitor spending climbed even more strongly, rising 4.77 per cent year-on-year to $52.3 million.
At the same time, Hawkesbury residents continued to spend beyond the region, with “escape spending” money spent outside the area, also totalling $95.2 million, up 3.06 per cent.
Online shopping recorded the most significant growth, with residents spending $136.2 million online, a sharp 14.16 per cent increase on the same time last year.
Overall, the figures reflect a mix of essential purchases, leisure activities and digital spending shaping the local economy.
Top categories driving the economy
Across the Hawkesbury, the top five total local spend categories in January were:
- Grocery Stores & Supermarkets – $31.4M
- Transport – $21.7M
- Dining & Entertainment – $21.5M
- Specialised & Luxury Goods – $18.5M
- Professional Services – $15.6M
Grocery and supermarket spending led the way as families stocked up for the new year, while transport and dining figures suggest residents and visitors were both on the move and enjoying time out.
Spending on specialised and luxury goods, along with professional services, highlights continued investment in personal, household and lifestyle needs.
Who’s spending?
The biggest spending demographic in January 2026 was women aged 45–54, who contributed $15.8 million in total monthly spending.
Baby Boomers aged 65 and over also played a key role, increasing their spending by 1.2 per cent year-on-year, demonstrating continued confidence among older residents.
Where residents spent their money
Of the $95.2 million residents spent locally, the top categories were:
- Grocery Stores & Supermarkets – $24.1M
- Transport – $13M
- Specialised & Luxury Goods – $12.8M
- Dining & Entertainment – $11M
- Professional Services – $10.1M
The breakdown shows a healthy balance between essential spending and discretionary purchases, reinforcing the strength and diversity of Hawkesbury’s local business sector.
Visitors bring strong boost
Visitors contributed $52.3 million to the local economy in January.
The sectors benefiting most from visitor spending were:
- Dining & Entertainment – $10.5M
- Transport – $8.71M
- Grocery Stores & Supermarkets – $7.35M
The top three suburbs by visitor local spend were:
- Londonderry – $3.45M
- Riverstone – $1.60M
- Box Hill – $1.24M
The figures underline the importance of hospitality, transport and retail in capturing visitor dollars.
Richmond leads suburb spending
The highest total local spend was recorded in:
- Richmond – $34.85M
- Vineyard – $22.67M
- Windsor – $22.3M
These centres continue to act as key commercial hubs within the Hawkesbury.
Friday night fuels the night-time economy
The busiest night of the month was Friday 23 January 2026, with total local spending hitting $1 million.
Of that, $400,000 was spent on dining and entertainment, highlighting the strength of the Hawkesbury’s night-time economy and the community’s appetite for socialising and supporting local venues.
January’s results signal a local economy driven by everyday essentials, leisure spending and strong visitor engagement.
Information for this article was sourced from Hawkesbury Business Hub Hawkesbury City Council Business@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au>
