Australia’s business mood deteriorated in August, with the National Australia Bank (NAB) Business Confidence index weakening to -8, down from -6 in July 2026. The latest reading, updated on 8 September 2026, signals a further slide in sentiment as firms report growing pessimism about near-term economic conditions.
The move deeper into negative territory suggests that more businesses now view the outlook as worsening rather than improving. While specific sector details were not provided, the continued decline from July to August indicates that underlying concerns around demand, costs or broader economic uncertainty are weighing on corporate expectations across the country.
With confidence remaining below zero for a second consecutive month, the August figures may heighten attention on how prolonged weakness in sentiment could translate into softer hiring, investment and spending decisions by Australian businesses in the coming months.
