Agents' Summary of Business Conditions - October 2006

• Consumer spending growth was steady.
• The housing market recovery continued. Supply rose to match demand and house price inflation stabilised.
• Export growth continued to strengthen modestly.
• Investment intentions rose a little further.
• Manufacturing production growth increased, with a marked pickup evident in domestic demand.
• Construction output growth also ticked up.
• Service sector output growth was steady.
• Employment intentions rose and skill shortages intensified.
• Capacity pressures rose slightly.
• Pay pressures were generally little changed, but were expected to grow next year.
• Input price inflation eased back, reflecting lower prices of oil and some metals.
• Manufacturing output price inflation was steady. Consumer price inflation eased slightly.

Agents' summary of business conditions - October 2006

• Agents' scores (xlsx)
• Definitions for the Agents’ scores
• Response to consultation on changes to Agents' scores