Nearly half of Australian businesses (46%) said operating expenses rose in the past four weeks, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ final Business Conditions and Sentiments survey. The increase follows easing fuel price pressure, but many firms still face higher costs. Overhead costs were cited by 65% of respondents, staffing costs by 40% and finance or debt commitments by 19%. Industries that rely heavily on fuel—such as agriculture, manufacturing and transport—were most affected, with up to 72% reporting higher costs. Small businesses reported a 14‑point rise in overheads and a 9‑point rise in staffing costs. About 44% of firms absorbed the increases, 15% raised prices and 6% added fuel surcharges.
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This article is a summary of content originally published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
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