Australia Business Conditions Show Promising Improvement in August: Survey

A man wearing a protective face mask walks past a usually busy market in the city centre during a lockdown to curb the spread of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Sydney, Australia on Aug. 31, 2021. Loren Elliott/Reuters

SYDNEY—A measure of Australian business conditions showed a welcome improvement in August as sales and profits weather coronavirus lockdowns in parts of the country, offering hope of a speedy recovery once restrictions ease.

Tuesday’s survey from National Australia Bank showed its index of business conditions rose 4 points to +14 in August, recovering part of July’s sharp 14-point drop.