Overview

• International sales rose at the slowest pace since March as companies pointed to price competition from overseas providers.
• Service providers reported softer input cost pressures and raised prices at the weakest rate since March.
• Employment growth stayed modest, with fewer than 5% of surveyed firms reporting new hiring.
• Business sentiment improved to a six-month high, supported by plans for advertising, efficiency gains, competitive pricing and anticipated tax cuts.
• The Composite PMI, covering manufacturing and services, eased to 61.0, indicating robust overall growth despite slower gains in new orders and output.