The preliminary PMI results for Australia showed a pick-up in growth of private sector output during December, reflecting the loosening of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions, with faster expansions evident in both the manufacturing and services economies. Aggregate sales rose at the quickest pace since mid-2017, underpinning back-to-back increases in employment. Companies became more upbeat towards growth prospects, with the overall level of positive sentiment strengthening to a 28-month high. Meanwhile, input cost inflation eased from November while selling prices rose at the fastest rate since ... (full story)