Ai Group Australian Industry Index®

The Ai Group Australian Industry Index® is representative of the modern industrial ecosystem. It brings together the manufacturing, construction, engineering, technology and business services sectors – industries which together account for 36% of the Australian economy.

Recognising the heritage and importance of the Australian PMI® and Australia PCI®, both will continue as sub-indicators available within the Ai Group Australian Industry Index®, however, there will no longer be separate release dates for these indexes.

The Ai Group Australian Industry Index® is regularly published on the first working Wednesday of each month (or the following working day if the Wednesday is a national holiday): Australian Industry Index release dates 2024 - Australian Industry Index release dates 2025

August 2024: Industrial employment down in August

Key findings

  • The Australian Industry Index® sank deeper in August and continued to point towards challenging conditions.
  • Indicators for activity/sales, inputs and employment all fell in the month. A significant decline for employment points to many months of low orders now flowing through to employment activity.
  • August saw mixed results on pricing – growth in input prices and wages indicators eased, while sales prices rose for a third month.
  • Constructors and machinery manufacturers reported steep declines, citing weak order books and persistent cost pressures.
  • Business services have recovered from the previous month as a result of increased demand and productivity.

The Ai Group Australian Industry Index® fell in August 2024, losing 2.9 points to -23.5 points (seasonally adjusted). The index has indicated contractionary conditions for the last twenty-eight months.

Economic Intelligence newsletter

September 2024

In the September edition of Economic Intelligence we cover:

  • The future of industry assistance in Australia: How will The Future Made in Australia (FMIA) program change the trajectory of industry policy? Our September research note explores the who, how much and why of industry assistance in Australia.
  • Tracking Australian industry: Lowest growth since the 1990s recession, business holding back investment, vacancies fall yet still elevated, sourcing skilled staff remains tough, retail flat and farmers quit the industry.
  • Economic Forecasts: IMF forecasts Australian growth will slip in 2024, while inflation is expected ease faster for advanced economies compares to emerging markets, while trade tensions continue to escalate.

Detailed Index Data

Our reports and time series data for the Ai Group Australian Industry Index® are available free of charge to Ai Group members at any time via email from our economics research team economics@aigroup.com.au. Our data are available to non-members on an annual subscription basis or a one-off purchase. Our data subscribers receive the report and time series data for the activity index, sector and selected states via email each month.

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Become a member

The Australian Industry Group is the peak membership body for Australian industry, linking you to the insights, services and expertise you need to be successful. As a member of Ai Group, you are part of a powerful, credible and experienced industry community.