-0.7 on previous index reading
The Business Pulse came in at 90.1 in September 2021, down 0.7 on last month but up 21.8 on a year ago. Sentiment was mixed across the sectors, with the Industry and Retail Pulses easing, the Services Pulse more or less flat on the month and the Construction Pulse up a touch. All four indices remained above their pre-pandemic level though. On the costs front, two thirds of firms reported an increase in input costs excluding labour over the past three months, while almost half indicated that they expect to raise their selling prices in the period ahead. As for infrastructure, housing re-emerged as the priority area for investment in September’s survey of businesses, ousting telecommunications from the top spot.
