Australia’s total new private capital expenditure fell 3.6% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter of 2026 to an inflation-adjusted A$50.95 billion, reversing an upwardly revised 6.9% increase in the previous quarter and missing market expectations. The latest Reuters account put forecasts at a 0.5% rise, while the existing record had described expectations as unchanged. Equipment, plant and machinery spending dropped 8.9%, led by a 53% decline in information media and telecommunications equipment after record investment in data-center server racks and processing equipment in the prior quarter. Spending on buildings and structures rose 2.1%. Despite the quarterly decline, firms planned A$200.7 billion in private capital expenditure for the year to June 2027, 15.5% above the previous estimate.