Australia’s private sector downturn deepened in March, as the S&P Global Manufacturing & Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) edged down to 46.60 from 47.00 on a month-over-month basis.
Both the previous and current readings are below the 50.0 threshold that typically separates expansion from contraction, indicating that overall business activity in March continued to shrink and did so at a slightly faster pace than in the prior month. The latest figure, updated on 06 April 2026, suggests that momentum in both manufacturing and services remained under pressure through the month.
With the March 2026 PMI slipping further from February’s level, the data reinforce signs of persistent weakness in Australia’s private sector conditions as the first quarter drew to a close. Investors and policymakers will be watching subsequent releases closely to gauge whether this soft patch extends into the coming months.
