Following a strong start to the new year, the Australian private sector economy expanded at a weaker pace in February, according to provisional PMI® data by S&P Global. There were broad-based slowdowns across both the manufacturing and service sectors with respect to both output and new business. Business sentiment dimmed but remained positive. Meanwhile, jobs growth accelerated to support existing workloads and amid a sustained expansion in inflows of new work. Prices data showed an intensification of overall cost and charge inflation. At 52.0 in February, the headline seasonally adjusted S&P Global Flash ... (full story)