The rise and fall of charitable giving

The most recent report of the NAB Charitable Giving Index shows that the "the overall rate of giving to charity fell by 0.3 per cent, down from growth of 5.1 per cent a year earlier in line with softening retail sales growth over the past 12 months, a post mining boom adjustment in some state economies and a reluctance by consumers to spend on other "non-essentials", including eating out, entertainment, major household items."