Australian Industry Activity Slumps: Ai Group

The Ai Group Australian Industry Index fell by 7.9 points to -13.9 in August, retreating from July’s peak.

Activity declined across sales, employment, new orders, and input volumes, reversing the gains seen at the start of the financial year.

The sales indicator slipped to -12.1, while the employment index dropped to -9.8, reflecting gradual softening in the labor market.

Export demand remained strong for some firms, but domestic sales lagged, and new orders fell sharply to -17.8.

Input volumes also contracted, down 20.3 points to -14.8, as cost-of-living pressures weighed on customer demand.

Market sentiment remained weak amid rising uncertainty, import competition, and broader economic pressures.

Despite this, sales prices rose while input costs and average wages eased, narrowing the gap between selling prices and costs.