NAB survey shows Australia business conditions turn negative for first time in six years

• NAB’s August 2026 business survey showed business conditions fell 5 points to -1, the first negative reading in six years.
• Business confidence slipped 2 points to -8, sitting 12 points below January.
• Profitability dropped 10 points to -9, a post-COVID low, as costs continued to outpace selling prices.
• Purchase cost growth held at 2.3% quarter-on-quarter, while product price growth eased to 0.8%, widening margin pressure.
• Forward orders rose 3 points to 0, while capacity utilization fell 0.6 percentage points to 82.5%.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. NAB - National Australia Bank Ltd. published the original content used to generate this news brief on September 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.