The Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam (BDCB) published its Business Sentiment Index (BSI) for November 2024, based on surveys of around 500 businesses across 11 sectors. The headline Current Business Conditions sub-index was 50.0, indicating broadly unchanged conditions versus October 2024, and the one-month-ahead index for December 2024 was also 50.0. The Investment sub-index was 50.0 for November 2024 and one month ahead, while the three-month-ahead reading rose to 50.5 as some firms anticipated higher capital expenditure in February 2025 ahead of the financial year-end. Employment was slightly positive at 50.2 for both the current month and one month ahead, supported by continued hiring including i-Ready apprentices. Costs were 50.2 in November 2024 and 49.9 one month ahead, with higher near-term costs linked to renovations, events, salary and input costs, and maintenance, followed by expectations of lower costs in December due to cheaper raw materials, fewer customers, and project completion. By sector, only Hotels & Restaurants (50.3) and Finance & Insurance (50.1) were optimistic, while Construction was the most pessimistic (49.7); by firm size, micro businesses were marginally optimistic (50.1) and small businesses slightly pessimistic (49.9), with medium and large firms unchanged (50.0).
Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam 2025-01-07
Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam publishes November 2024 Business Sentiment Index with headline at 50.0 and three month ahead investment at 50.5
The Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam released its Business Sentiment Index for November 2024, showing stable conditions with a headline sub-index of 50.0. The Investment sub-index remained at 50.0, with a slight increase to 50.5 for three months ahead, indicating anticipated higher capital expenditure. Employment and costs were slightly positive, while sector optimism varied, with Hotels & Restaurants and Finance & Insurance showing optimism, and Construction being the most pessimistic.