Expectations for Australia’s manufacturing sector remain “marginally positive”, despite some high-profile disapointments in the last quarter. 

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends for the June quarter found that negative predictions for new orders and output across the sector were not realised. Instead, new orders grew by 9% year-on-year and output by 3% year-on-year over the last three months.

Employment in the sector was down by 15% compared to the same period last year. Other metrics also indicated a slump in manufacturing, Greg Evans, Chief Economist with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said. "Despite the improvement in activity indicators for New Orders and Output, most outcomes of the June quarter survey, which was conducted after the Federal Budget, remain disappointing.”

More information on the report can be found at: http://acci.asn.au/Research-and-Publications/Media-Centre/Media-Releases-and-Transcripts/Economics-Industry/207th--ACCI---Westpac-Survey-of-Industrial-Trends- .