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

October 2024: Pricing indicators fall with disinflation

Key findings

  • The Australian Industry Index® fell in October, pointing towards a broadening of the challenging business conditions in industry.
  • All industrial activity indicators fell in the month, with employment – recently the strongest – continuing to decline in trend terms.
  • The input price indicator eased to its lowest level since 2020, consistent with lowering of inflationary pressures.
  • The sales price indicator turned negative, indicating that more businesses were cutting than lifting sales prices.
  • The manufacturing indicator (PMI) improved, but construction (PCI) showed its lowest monthly reading since the pandemic.
  • Capacity utilisation continued dropped to 74.3% on the back of weak activity and employment results.

The Ai Group Australian Industry Index® declined in October 2024, losing 10.1 points to -28.8 points (seasonally adjusted). The index has indicated contraction for the last thirty months.

Economic Intelligence newsletter

November 2024

In the November edition of Economic Intelligence we cover:

  • Measuring migrants’ contribution to the Australian labour market: Our research note explores the roles and impacts of migrants in the Australian labour market, including their occupational and industry distribution, qualification profiles, and gender-based employment outcomes.
  • Government stimulus obscures increasing weakness in private sector labour market: Despite weak economic conditions, the Australian labour market remains resilient due to significant government stimulus in the non-market sector, particularly in healthcare and social services.
  • Tracking Australian industry: Slowest economic growth since early-1990s; headline CPI fell, underlying inflation still high; investment to fall further due to weak conditions; market sector growth anaemic; household spending improved in the Q3 2024 after two years; real labour costs surge due to tight market and high wage growth.
  • Q&A with AustralianSuper: The Investment Team at AustralianSuper share insights on the global investment markets, interest rates and the influence of the recent US election.
  • Economic Forecasts: RBA forecasts Australian growth will pick up in 2025, while underlying inflation is expected to fall back into target in early 2025 and wage growth will decline steadily throughout 2026.

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.