Business turnover across 13 Australian industries fell 0.1% in seasonally adjusted terms in May, marking the first monthly decline since October 2024, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed Thursday.

Electricity, gas, water, and waste services led growth, with business turnover in the industry up 1.7%. This was followed by a 1.1% increase in wholesale trade and a 1% rise in accommodation and food services.

In contrast, the biggest decline was seen in arts and recreation services, with business turnover down 5.5%. Manufacturing followed with a 1.3% drop, while retail trade fell 0.8%.

The fall in the arts and recreation services industry was led by an 11.2% drop in gambling activities following a rise in April, according to Robert Ewing, the bureau's head of business statistics.