Australia’s NAB Business Confidence Index rose to -24 in April 2026 from -29 in the previous month, which had marked the second-largest monthly drop on record. The survey flagged mounting strain from surging energy costs tied to the Middle East conflict, squeezing margins and curbing investment. Meanwhile, business conditions slid to 3 from 6, the second-lowest since 2020 and the fourth straight decline. NAB economist Michael Hayes warned rising costs were eroding activity, with forward orders, capex, cash flow, and employment all well below norms. Capital expenditure plunged 8 points, its sharpest drop since the post-pandemic rebound. Cost pressures intensified: purchase costs rose 4.5% qoq, far outpacing selling price growth of 1.8%, while retail prices jumped to 3.2% from 0.6%. The weak survey comes as the central bank lifted rates for a third consecutive meeting to 4.35%, amid concern firms may pass higher energy costs to consumers, stoking inflation expectations. source: National Australia Bank

Business Confidence in Australia increased to -24 points in April from -29 points in March of 2026. Business Confidence in Australia averaged 4.65 points from 1997 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 23.00 points in October of 2021 and a record low of -68.00 points in March of 2020. This page provides - Australia Business Confidence - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Australia Business Confidence - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Business Confidence in Australia increased to -24 points in April from -29 points in March of 2026. Business Confidence in Australia is expected to be -26.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Business Confidence is projected to trend around -6.00 points in 2027 and 4.00 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-14 01:30 AM
NAB Business Confidence
Mar -29 0 -6
2026-05-12 01:30 AM
NAB Business Confidence
Apr -24 -29 -32
2026-06-09 01:30 AM
NAB Business Confidence
May -24


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 1101.00 1306.00 Companies Apr 2026
Building Capital Expenditure 2.30 2.30 percent Dec 2025
NAB Business Confidence -24.00 -29.00 points Apr 2026
Business Inventories -0.10 -0.80 percent Dec 2025
Capacity Utilization 77.70 73.70 percent Apr 2026
Passenger Car Sales 11005.00 13101.00 Units Apr 2026
Changes in Inventories 657.00 -1801.00 AUD Million Dec 2025
Composite Leading Indicator 100.92 100.85 points Apr 2026
Company Gross Profits 133922.00 126530.00 AUD Million Dec 2025
Corruption Index 76.00 77.00 Points Dec 2025
Corruption Rank 12.00 10.00 Dec 2025
Industrial Production 2.70 0.10 percent Dec 2025
Industrial Production Mom 1.60 -0.20 percent Dec 2025
Ai Group Industry Index -24.40 -34.20 points Apr 2026
Ai Group Services Index -24.40 -23.60 points Apr 2026
Ai Group Construction Index -19.30 -57.10 points Apr 2026
Ai Group Manufacturing Index -27.90 -28.60 points Apr 2026
Westpac Leading Index MoM -0.10 -0.10 percent Mar 2026
Manufacturing Production 1.10 -1.90 percent Dec 2025
Mining Production 3.80 0.40 percent Dec 2025
New Orders 35.00 23.00 points Dec 2025
Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure -1.70 11.20 percent Dec 2025
Private Capital Expenditure 0.40 6.40 percent Dec 2025
Small Business Sentiment -2.00 -8.00 points Sep 2025
New Vehicle Sales 92591.00 105058.00 Units Apr 2026


Australia Business Confidence
The NAB monthly survey of business confidence is based on a telephone survey of around 600 small, medium and large size non-agricultural companies. The Survey measures the expectations of business conditions for the upcoming month and is a simple average of trading, profitability and employment indices, reported by respondents for their company. The indices are calculated by taking the difference between the percentage of respondents nominating good or very good, or a rise and those nominating poor or very poor, or a fall.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-24.00 -29.00 23.00 -68.00 1997 - 2026 points Monthly
SA

News Stream
Australia Business Mood Remains Deeply Negative
Australia’s NAB Business Confidence Index rose to -24 in April 2026 from -29 in the previous month, which had marked the second-largest monthly drop on record. The survey flagged mounting strain from surging energy costs tied to the Middle East conflict, squeezing margins and curbing investment. Meanwhile, business conditions slid to 3 from 6, the second-lowest since 2020 and the fourth straight decline. NAB economist Michael Hayes warned rising costs were eroding activity, with forward orders, capex, cash flow, and employment all well below norms. Capital expenditure plunged 8 points, its sharpest drop since the post-pandemic rebound. Cost pressures intensified: purchase costs rose 4.5% qoq, far outpacing selling price growth of 1.8%, while retail prices jumped to 3.2% from 0.6%. The weak survey comes as the central bank lifted rates for a third consecutive meeting to 4.35%, amid concern firms may pass higher energy costs to consumers, stoking inflation expectations.
2026-05-12
Australia Business Sentiment Tumbles to Lowest Since 2020
Australia’s NAB Business Confidence Index plunged to -29 in March 2026 from an upwardly revised zero in the prior month, marking the second-largest monthly drop on record and the weakest reading since April 2020. The sharp deterioration reflected fallout from the Iran war, which triggered a global oil shock and weighed heavily on sentiment. Despite collapsing confidence, business conditions held steady at 6. Sales edged lower (11 vs 12), while profitability weakened (1 vs 4), highlighting margin pressures as input costs surged 3% q/q. Firms appear unable to fully pass on higher costs, with retail price growth easing to 0.5% from 0.9%, signaling softer pricing power. The Reserve Bank raised its policy rate for a second time in March to 4.1%, partially reversing last year’s easing. With fuel costs surging amid Middle East tensions, the central bank warned headline inflation could climb to around 5% in Q2, underscoring the already challenging outlook for businesses.
2026-04-14
Australia Business Sentiment Turns Negative
Australia’s NAB Business Confidence Index dropped sharply to -1 in February 2026 from 4 in the prior month, marking the first negative reading since last April as firms turned more cautious following the February rate hike. However, business conditions held steady, in line with the long-run average, as profits were unchanged (at 4) while sales edged higher (12 vs 11) but employment eased slightly (3 vs 4). Cost pressures picked up again during the month, with measures of labour and input costs both rebounding, while quarterly growth in retail prices rose to 1.0% from 0.3%, suggesting renewed price pressures. On a more positive note, investment plans climbed to their highest level in three years, while forward orders trebled to +6, pointing to stronger demand ahead. The survey was conducted from February 23 to March 2, meaning it only captured the early stage of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and the subsequent jump in energy prices.
2026-03-10