Fears about job security are weighing on Australians but cheap petrol should help to lift spirits.
Consumer confidence picked up a little last week but it still remains below levels seen in November, figures on Tuesday show.
Confidence rose 1.4 per cent to 111.7, according to ANZ/Roy Morgan's first weekly consumer confidence survey for 2015.
The figures were disappointing, ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan said.
He said cheap petrol prices should give confidence a boost although sentiment wasn't likely to improve until the jobs market picked up.
"The lack of a more solid rebound in consumer confidence is disappointing given anecdotes of decent retail spending over the Christmas period and a significant drop in the price of petrol," Mr Hogan said.
"We still expect lower fuel prices to filter through to confidence in coming weeks.
"Ultimately, confidence is unlikely to rise without a stabilisation in the unemployment rate."
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