The Central Bank of Brunei Darussalam (BDCB) released Brunei Darussalam’s Business Sentiment Index (BSI) for November 2025, based on a survey of about 500 businesses across 11 economic sectors. The Current Business Conditions sub-index was 50.0, signalling no material change from the previous month, while the one-month-ahead business conditions index edged up to 50.1, indicating slight optimism for December 2025. The investment sub-index remained mildly expansionary at 50.5 (current), 50.4 (one month ahead) and 50.7 (three months ahead), with respondents citing year-end project completions and plans for machinery, equipment upgrades, renovations, branch openings and preparations for upcoming festive demand. Employment stayed marginally contractionary at 49.9 for both the current month and one month ahead, reflecting workforce reductions linked to completed projects, downsizing and contract endings, alongside plans by some firms to hire replacements. Costs were expected to ease in November (49.6) and rise in December (50.6), with lower spending tied to project completion and seasonal slowdown, and higher outlays linked to annual bonuses, project spending and year-end promotions. By sector, sentiment was slightly positive in Finance and Insurance, Real Estate and Ownership of Dwellings, and Manufacturing (all 50.1), while Transport and Communication (49.7) and Construction (49.8) were the weakest. By business size, medium-sized firms recorded slight optimism (50.1) while micro, small and large businesses were neutral (50.0).

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