Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam revises Business Sentiment Index methodology as March current conditions rebound to 76.2

The Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam has published Brunei Darussalam’s Business Sentiment Index for March 2026 and introduced a revised methodology for the index. The change allows the BSI to use the full 0.0 to 100.0 scale while keeping 50.0 as the neutral point, replacing a previous calculation that effectively compressed readings into a 49.0 to 51.0 range. Under the revised series, the current business conditions index rose to 76.2 in March from 42.4 in February, pointing to a marked improvement in sentiment, while the one month ahead reading of 52.6 indicated only slight optimism for April. The March rebound was linked mainly to higher sales and customer activity, seasonal festive spending and longer working hours, although some firms still reported slower activity from project delays and higher logistics and input costs. Investment sentiment remained strong, with readings of 79.9 for the current month, 79.4 one month ahead and 67.8 three months ahead, while employment stayed weak at 43.6 for the current month and 47.5 one month ahead. Costs remained elevated at 79.5, though the one month ahead costs index eased to 50.4, suggesting some moderation. By sector, sentiment was strongest in oil and gas related activities at 87.9 and weakest in health and education at 17.5, with hotels and restaurants also pessimistic at 36.5. The bank said the methodological revision does not alter the economic interpretation of earlier results, and it has recalculated and published the historical series in its Statistical Bulletin to preserve comparability over time.