KUALA LUMPUR: The business performance in the fourth quarter 2015 is expected to slow down, as shown by the confidence indicator of -0.8 per cent as compared to +2.2 per cent in the preceding quarter.
The confidence indicator summarises the overall views on the short-term business situation in various sectors in Malaysia.
In a statement today, the Department of Statistics said the business performance by sectors, showed that the industrial and services sectors are expected to grow in the fourth quarter of the year with the confidence indicator at +1.4 per cent and +1.2 per cent respectively.
“However, the wholesale & retail trade and construction sectors are expected to drop with the confidence indicator at -13.2 per cent and -2.9 per cent respectively,” it added.
The department said 29.5 per cent of establishments are expecting an increase in gross revenue, 25 per cent foresee a decrease, while 45.5 per cent predict an unchanged gross revenue.
In terms of employees, the magnitude of the positive net balance of number of employees in the fourth quarter 2015 is lower (+4.0 per cent) than the +10.3 per cent registered for the third.
For the third quarter, the business performance decreased with the overall net balance for all sectors was recorded at -7.7 per cent as compared with -3.0 per cent in the previous quarter.
“A total of 29.6 per cent of establishments reported an improvement in their business gross revenue.
In contrast, 33.2 per cent of establishments reported a decline, while 37.2 per cent stated their business remained the same in the third quarter. — Bernama