Bandar seri begawan: The Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) released the Business Sentiment Index (BSI) for April 2026, which provides insights into the economic outlook from businesses across the nation. The index, a result of surveys conducted with approximately 500 businesses of varying sizes across 11 economic sectors, revealed a complex picture of business sentiment.

According to Radio Television Brunei, the Current Business Conditions sub-index was recorded at 63.3 in April 2026, down from 76.2 in March 2026. This indicates that while businesses maintain an optimistic view regarding current conditions, overall sentiment has moderated. The one month ahead index, at 50.6, suggests that businesses expect stability in conditions as May approaches, reflecting a cautious outlook.

Investment expectations remain positive, with the sub-indices showing a value of 70.4 for the current month and rising to 79 for the one month ahead, and 78.5 for three months ahead. This signals ongoing confidence in investment prospects among businesses.

Conversely, the Employment sub-index was at 43.6 for April and slightly increased to 44.6 for the one month ahead, pointing to a contraction in hiring activities. This reflects a conservative approach towards employment amidst the current economic climate.

The Costs sub-index was notably high at 79.8 for the current month and 72.5 for one month ahead, suggesting that businesses anticipate rising operating costs will persist, posing challenges to maintaining profit margins.

For further details, the BDCB encourages visiting their official website or social media platforms.