The Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam (BDCB) released Brunei Darussalam’s Business Sentiment Index (BSI) for July 2025, with the headline Current Business Conditions sub-index at 50.3, indicating a slight month-on-month improvement in business sentiment. The one-month-ahead business conditions index eased to 50.1, pointing to a mixed but marginally optimistic near-term outlook. The monthly index draws on surveys of about 500 micro, small, medium and large firms across 11 sectors and is intended as a forward-looking gauge of confidence, investment, employment and operating costs, where readings above 50 signal expansion relative to the prior month. July’s results were linked to activity around the Sultan of Brunei’s birthday celebrations and newly awarded contracts and tenders, while many micro, small and medium enterprises cited financial pressure, uncertainty over project availability, weaker consumer demand and seasonal slowdowns. Investment remained modestly positive (50.5 current, 50.4 one month ahead and 50.4 three months ahead), employment dipped slightly below neutral (49.9 current) but turned positive one month ahead (50.2), and costs fell in July (49.5) before rising one month ahead (50.3), with Oil and Gas related firms a key driver of the employment and cost movements. By sector, Health and Education (50.6) and Transport and Communication (50.5) led optimism, while Construction (49.9), Real Estate and Ownership of Dwellings (49.9) and Wholesale and Retail Trade (49.8) were less optimistic.
Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam 2025-09-03
Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam publishes July 2025 Business Sentiment Index with current conditions at 50.3
The Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam released the Business Sentiment Index for July 2025, showing a slight improvement in current business conditions at 50.3, with a marginally optimistic outlook for the near term at 50.1. Based on surveys from 500 firms across 11 sectors, the index indicates modest investment and employment trends, with costs expected to rise. Optimism was highest in Health and Education and Transport and Communication sectors, while Construction, Real Estate, and Wholesale and Retail Trade showed less optimism.