Australia’s business inventories returned to growth in the first quarter of 2026, rising 0.5% Month-over-Month, according to data updated on 2 June 2026. The increase marks a clear turnaround from the fourth quarter of 2025, when inventories had slipped 0.1% on a Month-over-Month basis.
The shift from contraction to expansion suggests that Australian firms moved from cautiously drawing down stock at the end of 2025 to rebuilding inventories in early 2026. On a Month-over-Month comparison, the current 0.5% rise contrasts with the previous period’s 0.1% decline, indicating a modest but notable improvement in inventory levels across the business sector.
