January 8, 2016
The result continued the longest run of expansionary readings since 2010. As in November, five of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded (that is, above 50 points in three-month moving averages): wood & paper products (down 2.9 points to 64.3); petroleum, coal, chemical & rubber products (down 2.2 points to 55.2); non-metallic mineral products (down 3.8 points to 54.2); food & beverages (down 0.6 points to 51.8); and printing & recorded media (up 3.3 points to 50.9). However, the machinery and equipment (up 4.1 points to 47.2), metal products (down 0.4 points to 48.6), and textiles, clothing, footwear, furniture & other (down 2.7 points to 49.3) sub-sectors all contracted. “The further expansion of Australian manufacturing in December capped a strong second half of 2015,” said Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox. “After the extended weakness the sector has experienced over the past five years, this is a most welcome turnaround.” Of the seven activity…
