The Ai Group Industry Index for Australia's construction sector fell to -40.6 in July 2026 from a downwardly revised -33.3 in the previous month, marking its weakest reading since March and the sixth consecutive month of contraction, highlighting a further deterioration in business conditions. Activity remained constrained by delays in project approvals, persistent cost pressures, cautious client spending, a limited pipeline of tender opportunities, and contracts nearing completion. Businesses also cited policy and regulatory uncertainty, which compounded higher fuel-related costs. Meanwhile, ongoing labour shortages continued to limit capacity, while rising wage costs added further pressure on the sector's operating conditions. source: Australian Industry Group

Industry Index Construction in Australia decreased to -40.60 points in July from -33.30 points in June of 2026. Industry Index Construction in Australia averaged -9.96 points from 2020 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 23.90 points in March of 2021 and a record low of -68.10 points in May of 2024. This page includes a chart with historical data for Australia Ai Group Industry Index - Construction. Australia Ai Group Industry Index - Construction - values, historical data and charts - was last updated on August of 2026.

Industry Index Construction in Australia decreased to -40.60 points in July from -33.30 points in June of 2026. Industry Index Construction in Australia is expected to be -27.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Ai Group Industry Index - Construction is projected to trend around -16.00 points in 2027 and -12.00 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-30 11:00 PM
Ai Group Construction Index
Jun -38.1 -11.2 -14
2026-08-04 11:00 PM
Ai Group Construction Index
Jul -40.6 -33.3 -36
2026-09-01 11:00 PM
Ai Group Construction Index
Aug -40.6


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 1333.00 1104.00 Companies Jun 2026
Building Capital Expenditure -3.80 2.50 percent Mar 2026
NAB Business Confidence -5.00 -14.00 points Jun 2026
Business Inventories 0.50 -0.10 percent Mar 2026
Capacity Utilization 74.00 72.80 percent Jul 2026
Passenger Car Sales 13393.00 15099.00 Units Jul 2026
Changes in Inventories 675.00 897.00 AUD Million Mar 2026
Composite Leading Indicator 100.24 100.33 points Jun 2026
Company Gross Profits 132650.00 134455.00 AUD Million Mar 2026
Corruption Index 76.00 77.00 Points Dec 2025
Corruption Rank 12.00 10.00 Dec 2025
Industrial Production 2.50 2.80 percent Mar 2026
Industrial Production Mom -0.60 1.70 percent Mar 2026
Ai Group Industry Index -29.90 -30.00 points Jul 2026
Ai Group Services Index -29.90 -30.00 points Jul 2026
Ai Group Construction Index -40.60 -33.30 points Jul 2026
Ai Group Manufacturing Index -19.60 -13.90 points Jul 2026
Westpac Leading Index MoM 0.00 -0.10 percent Jun 2026
Manufacturing Production 3.20 1.10 percent Mar 2026
Mining Production 3.10 4.00 percent Mar 2026
New Orders 33.00 33.00 points Mar 2026
Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure 18.10 -1.30 percent Mar 2026
Private Capital Expenditure 6.50 0.70 percent Mar 2026
Small Business Sentiment -2.00 -8.00 points Sep 2025
New Vehicle Sales 103656.00 131134.00 Units Jul 2026


Australia Ai Group Industry Index - Construction
The Australian Industry Index is a monthly index that measures changes in activity in Australia’s industrial sectors. It provides diffusion indices which measure rates of changes in the level of industrial activity – expansion, stability or contraction. A positive reading indicates the activity is expanding; negative indicates contraction. The distance from 0 indicates the strength of the expansion or decline.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-40.60 -33.30 23.90 -68.10 2020 - 2026 points Monthly
SA

News Stream
Australia Construction Extends Six-Month Contraction
The Ai Group Industry Index for Australia's construction sector fell to -40.6 in July 2026 from a downwardly revised -33.3 in the previous month, marking its weakest reading since March and the sixth consecutive month of contraction, highlighting a further deterioration in business conditions. Activity remained constrained by delays in project approvals, persistent cost pressures, cautious client spending, a limited pipeline of tender opportunities, and contracts nearing completion. Businesses also cited policy and regulatory uncertainty, which compounded higher fuel-related costs. Meanwhile, ongoing labour shortages continued to limit capacity, while rising wage costs added further pressure on the sector's operating conditions.
2026-08-04
Australia Construction Sector Weakens Sharply
The Ai Group Industry Index for Australia’s construction sector plunged 26.9 points to -38.1 in June 2026, marking its lowest reading since March and signaling a sharp deterioration in business conditions. New orders contracted steeply as tax changes weighed on customer demand, prompting many clients to delay projects and causing some firms to reassess staffing needs. Businesses also turned more cautious on investment, with capital expenditure deferred amid heightened economic uncertainty and a weaker pipeline of work. The survey suggests the sector continued to face subdued activity as rising costs, policy uncertainty, and soft demand undermined confidence.
2026-06-30
Australia Construction Index Strengthens Further
The Ai Group Industry Index for Australia’s construction sector rose 9.0 points to -9.9 in May 2026, extending its recent recovery and notching a three-month high. Despite the improvement, conditions remained challenging as uncertainty continued to weigh on the sector. Businesses reported delays in client decision-making, slower project approvals, and subdued customer confidence, leading to the postponement of investment and procurement plans. Construction firms also expressed growing concerns about the outlook, citing project delays, elevated costs, and persistent stock shortages, although new enquiries remained relatively steady.
2026-06-02