Australia’s business confidence eased at the start of 2026, with the NAB Business Survey indicator declining to 7 in January from 9 in December 2025. The latest reading, updated on 10 February 2026, points to a modest cooling in sentiment after a stronger year-end.
The January figure of 7 still suggests that businesses remain in positive territory overall, but the two-point drop indicates growing caution among firms as they assess the outlook for the new year. While the survey does not detail sector-level movements, the shift from December’s level of 9 may reflect early responses to evolving domestic and global economic conditions as 2026 begins.
