Australia’s S&P Global Composite PMI stood at 52.7 in August 2026, up from flash data of 52.5 but eased from 53.2 in the previous month. The latest reading marked the fourth expansion in private-sector activity in five months, although growth remained concentrated in services as manufacturing output edged lower. New orders increased across both sectors, lifting composite new business for a second consecutive month, while new export orders rose for the first time in five months. Business confidence strengthened to a six-month high, and firms continued to increase staffing levels. Meanwhile, input cost inflation accelerated, pointing to renewed cost pressures, but the pace of selling-price inflation eased from July, suggesting businesses were less aggressive in passing higher costs on to customers.