SYDNEY - Australian business conditions continued to soften in December as manufacturing and construction lost ground, a survey showed on Tuesday, while price pressures eased markedly in a promising sign for slower inflation. The survey from National Australia Bank (NAB) showed its index of business conditions dipped 2 points to +7 in December, though that was still just above its long run average. Its measure of business confidence rebounded 7 points to -1, led by a pick up in the mining and retail sectors. Importantly, measures of labor and production costs retreated after a bounce in November. Quarterly growth in retail prices dropped sharply to 0.6 percent, the lowest si...Keep on reading: Australia Dec business conditions ease, price pressures cool