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

September 2024: Sales prices stall in September

Key findings

  • The Australian Industry Index® improved slightly in September but continued to point towards challenging business conditions.
  • Indicators for activity/sales, inputs, new orders and employment all improved slightly, but remain in negative territory.
  • The sales price indicator fell to neutral, continuing a downward trend over the last six months. With input prices and wages remaining elevated, this points to growing margin pressure.
  • Chemicals, machinery and business services reported slight declines, slower demand and persistent cost pressures.
  • Construction recovered slightly but continues to report weakness due to slower inquiry conversions and permit challenges.

The Ai Group Australian Industry Index® eased slightly in September 2024, lifting 4.9 points to -18.6 points (seasonally adjusted). The index has indicated contraction for the last twenty-nine months.

Economic Intelligence newsletter

October 2024

In the October edition of Economic Intelligence we cover:

  • The burgeoning Australia-India trade relationship: Since the pandemic Australia’s trade with India has surged – why, and where’s it going next? Our October research note explores the growth of the Australia-India trade relationship, past drivers, and future opportunities.
  • Tracking Australian industry: CPI falls with energy subsidies but underlying inflation still too high, vacancies continue to fall remain elevated, private sector employment dramatically falls, retail sales affected by seasonal factors, migration continues to drive population growth, construction work flat again.  
  • Economic Forecasts: OECD forecasts Australian growth will slip in 2024, while inflation is expected to fall back into target in most of the G20 nations by late 2025 and global growth will remain broadly stable.

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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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.