Data sources & transparency

AMSI uses publicly available macroeconomic and housing indicators to estimate system-level mortgage stress. The index does not use loan-level or household-level data. It combines published statistics on interest rates, employment, inflation, wages, housing, and credit into a single 0–100 stress measure so you can track how aggregate conditions change over time.

AMSI draws on categories of public data. At a high level:

• Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) — cash rate and monetary policy settings that influence mortgage rates and repayment burden.
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) — labour force data (unemployment, wages), inflation (CPI), and related economic indicators that affect household capacity to service debt.
• Housing market indicators — house prices and related measures that inform equity and housing stress context.
• Credit and lending aggregates — where relevant and publicly available, indicators that reflect lending conditions and arrears at an aggregate level.

Exact series and release schedules depend on availability; AMSI is updated as these sources publish new data.

AMSI normalises multiple indicators so they can be combined into a single stress index. The same scoring logic is used for both current and historical snapshots, so comparisons over time are consistent. Historical values are calculated using the same methodology as the latest reading; where historical source data has been revised, past AMSI values may be updated in line with those revisions.

AMSI is updated periodically as source data is released (typically monthly). The dashboard shows the as-of date of each snapshot and, when set, the expected next update. Revisions to underlying data may lead to revisions in past readings; the index reflects the best available information at each update.

AMSI is transparent about how it is built and maintained:

• Inputs — we describe the categories of data used and the main sources (RBA, ABS, housing, credit) at a high level.
• Modelling — we do not publish proprietary weights, coefficients, or detailed calibration; the methodology is consistent and the index integrity is protected.
• Limitations — we state data lags, revisions, and model simplifications so users can interpret the index appropriately.

Keep these in mind when using AMSI:

• Data publication lag — inputs are released with a delay; the index does not use real-time or proprietary data.
• Revisions in source data — agencies often revise past statistics; AMSI may be updated when those revisions are incorporated.
• Model simplifications — the index is an aggregate summary; it does not capture every factor that affects stress at a household or regional level.

AMSI provides analytical indicators only and is not financial advice. It does not recommend or advise any financial decision. You remain responsible for your own decisions. Use the index as context for national conditions, not as a substitute for professional advice or lending assessments.