Date Time Australian PMI: Manufacturing goes from strength to strength in April 2021 The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) increased by a further 1.8 points to 61.7 in April, indicating a seventh consecutive month of recovery from the severe disruptions of COVID-19 in Q2 of 2020 and the index’s highest monthly result since March 2018. It is the third highest rate of growth recorded since the Australian PMI® moved to a monthly format in May 2001 (readings above 50 points indicate expansion in activity, with higher results indicating a faster rate of expansion). All six manufacturing sectors in the Australian PMI® expanded in April 2021, as did all seven activity indicators. The capacity utilisation index hit a record high, suggesting employment and/or investment may need to step up in order to facilitate further growth from here.