Dun and Bradstreet chief executive Christine Christian said her company's latest national business expectations survey, to be published today, showed five key indicators of business strength had improved significantly, some to their highest levels in seven years.

''The sales index is particularly strong and it is driving the increased level of expectations in profits, inventories and capital investment.''

The report said 47per cent of firms expected to increase sales in the December quarter, compared to 14per cent anticipating a decrease, taking the index to 33, a 15-point rise.

''The profits index has risen to its highest level in six years, with a 10percentage-point climb since the September quarter taking the index to 22. One third of firms [34 per cent] expect that profits will increase during the December quarter, while 12 per cent anticipate a decrease,'' it said.

Capital investment expectations are at a seven-year high of 18, up five points, but the survey found no change on employment expectations: 11 per cent of firms plan to put on staff and 6 per cent think they will lay people off.

The latest ANZ job advertisements survey is pointing to a more buoyant labour market.

There was a 2.6per cent increase in job ads in August, to a seasonally adjusted average 176,239 a week. Internet ads rose 2.6 per cent to 166,743, and newspaper ads were up 1.5per cent to 9496. However, there was a 7.3 per cent fall in newspaper advertisements in the ACT.

ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan said it was the fourth consecutive increase in total ads.

''The pick-up in job advertisements in recent months suggests Australian businesses are confident about the local outlook despite the uncertain global economic environment. This suggests the Australian economy is maintaining good momentum into the second half of 2010,'' he said.