Australia Manufacturing Pmi

The Ai Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index fell to an eleven-month low of 51.6 in August 2021 from 60.8 a month earlier. The reading pointed to the slowest growth in factory activity since a contraction in September last year, due to extended lockdowns in Sydney and other large local areas to curb a recent spike in Covid-19 infections. Declines were seen in all subindexes: production (-11.6 to 50.2), employment (-9.4 to 51.4), new orders (-5.4 to 57.1), sales (-11.8 to 49.9), input prices (-3.3 to 81.3) and selling prices (-3 to 61.7). Of the six manufacturing sectors only food and beverages expanded at a faster pace in August. Chemicals and TCF, paper & printing also expanded, albeit at a slower rate. Machinery & equipment manufacturing stalled while metal products and building materials manufacturing contracted due to restricted manufacturing and construction activity in NSW and Victoria.