Economic information that works for you IndicesBusiness Confidence IndexConsumer Confidence IndexBuilding Confidence IndexCivil Confidence IndexPurchasing Managers' IndexBuilding Cost Index RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Archive) The BER takes the percentage of respondents that rates prevailing conditions as satisfactory as indicator or proxy of business confidence. The composite RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) is the unweighted mean of five sectoral indices, namely that of manufactures, building contractors, retailers, wholesalers and new vehicle dealers. Business confidence can vary between 0 and 100, where 0 indicates an extreme lack of confidence, 50 neutrality and 100 extreme confidence. Click here for more information on how the BER’s business surveys are conducted. 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (History Data), 2020 Last updated: Nov 25 2020 11:06AM After crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up read moreAfter crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up the BCI. While the easing of lockdown restrictions in recent months has led to a resurgence in activity, the tempo of growth in 2021 and beyond remains highly uncertain. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020Q4 (Excel) Last updated: Nov 25 2020 11:03AM After crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up read moreAfter crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up the BCI. While the easing of lockdown restrictions in recent months has led to a resurgence in activity, the tempo of growth in 2021 and beyond remains highly uncertain. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020Q4 (pdf) Last updated: Nov 25 2020 11:05AM After crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up read moreAfter crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up the BCI. While the easing of lockdown restrictions in recent months has led to a resurgence in activity, the tempo of growth in 2021 and beyond remains highly uncertain. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020Q3 (Excel) Last updated: Sep 9 2020 11:26AM After falling from 18 to an all-time low of five in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI rebounded to 24 in the third quarter. Business confidence recovered in all the sectors making up the BCI. Given the close historical relationship between real GDP growth read moreAfter falling from 18 to an all-time low of five in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI rebounded to 24 in the third quarter. Business confidence recovered in all the sectors making up the BCI. Given the close historical relationship between real GDP growth and the RMB/BER BCI, the third quarter survey results foreshadow an improvement in the third quarter relative to the second quarter. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020Q3 (pdf) Last updated: Sep 9 2020 11:27AM After falling from 18 to an all-time low of five in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI rebounded to 24 in the third quarter. Business confidence recovered in all the sectors making up the BCI. Given the close historical relationship between real GDP growth read moreAfter falling from 18 to an all-time low of five in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI rebounded to 24 in the third quarter. Business confidence recovered in all the sectors making up the BCI. Given the close historical relationship between real GDP growth and the RMB/BER BCI, the third quarter survey results foreshadow an improvement in the third quarter relative to the second quarter RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020 - Quarter 2 - PDF Last updated: Jun 10 2020 11:54AM COVID-19 has drastically changed the already-weak economic landscape. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to merely five points, the lowest level ever recorded since the BER first began conducting its business confidence survey in 1975. read moreCOVID-19 has drastically changed the already-weak economic landscape. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to merely five points, the lowest level ever recorded since the BER first began conducting its business confidence survey in 1975. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020 - Quarter21 - Excel Last updated: Jun 10 2020 11:53AM COVID-19 has drastically changed the already-weak economic landscape. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to merely five points, the lowest level ever recorded since the BER first began conducting its business confidence survey in 1975. read moreCOVID-19 has drastically changed the already-weak economic landscape. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to merely five points, the lowest level ever recorded since the BER first began conducting its business confidence survey in 1975. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020 - Quarter 1 - Excel Last updated: Mar 11 2020 11:05AM The RMB/BER BCI slumped by eight points to 18 in the first quarter of 2020 - a 21-year low. Persistent demand weakness, load shedding, bailouts of struggling SOE’s, the deterioration in the government’s finances and the spreading of the coronavirus around the read moreThe RMB/BER BCI slumped by eight points to 18 in the first quarter of 2020 - a 21-year low. Persistent demand weakness, load shedding, bailouts of struggling SOE’s, the deterioration in the government’s finances and the spreading of the coronavirus around the globe all played a role. January’s 25 basis point interest rate cut was a small positive, but not enough to compensate for the negative developments. Since the survey was completed in early March, things have gone from bad to worse on the global front. The RMB/BER BCI will in all likelihood continue to trend lower in the period ahead, with obvious negative consequences for private sector fixed investment. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020 - Quarter 1 - PDF Last updated: Mar 11 2020 11:06AM The RMB/BER BCI slumped by eight points to 18 in the first quarter of 2020 - a 21-year low. Persistent demand weakness, load shedding, bailouts of struggling SOE’s, the deterioration in the government’s finances and the spreading of the coronavirus around the read moreThe RMB/BER BCI slumped by eight points to 18 in the first quarter of 2020 - a 21-year low. Persistent demand weakness, load shedding, bailouts of struggling SOE’s, the deterioration in the government’s finances and the spreading of the coronavirus around the globe all played a role. January’s 25 basis point interest rate cut was a small positive, but not enough to compensate for the negative developments. Since the survey was completed in early March, things have gone from bad to worse on the global front. The RMB/BER BCI will in all likelihood continue to trend lower in the period ahead, with obvious negative consequences for private sector fixed investment.
RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Archive) The BER takes the percentage of respondents that rates prevailing conditions as satisfactory as indicator or proxy of business confidence. The composite RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) is the unweighted mean of five sectoral indices, namely that of manufactures, building contractors, retailers, wholesalers and new vehicle dealers. Business confidence can vary between 0 and 100, where 0 indicates an extreme lack of confidence, 50 neutrality and 100 extreme confidence. Click here for more information on how the BER’s business surveys are conducted. 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (History Data), 2020 Last updated: Nov 25 2020 11:06AM After crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up read moreAfter crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up the BCI. While the easing of lockdown restrictions in recent months has led to a resurgence in activity, the tempo of growth in 2021 and beyond remains highly uncertain. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020Q4 (Excel) Last updated: Nov 25 2020 11:03AM After crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up read moreAfter crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up the BCI. While the easing of lockdown restrictions in recent months has led to a resurgence in activity, the tempo of growth in 2021 and beyond remains highly uncertain. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020Q4 (pdf) Last updated: Nov 25 2020 11:05AM After crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up read moreAfter crashing to an all-time low of five at the height of the COVID-19-induced lockdown in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI increased noticeably further from 24 in the third quarter to 40 in the fourth quarter. Confidence rose in all the sectors making up the BCI. While the easing of lockdown restrictions in recent months has led to a resurgence in activity, the tempo of growth in 2021 and beyond remains highly uncertain. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020Q3 (Excel) Last updated: Sep 9 2020 11:26AM After falling from 18 to an all-time low of five in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI rebounded to 24 in the third quarter. Business confidence recovered in all the sectors making up the BCI. Given the close historical relationship between real GDP growth read moreAfter falling from 18 to an all-time low of five in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI rebounded to 24 in the third quarter. Business confidence recovered in all the sectors making up the BCI. Given the close historical relationship between real GDP growth and the RMB/BER BCI, the third quarter survey results foreshadow an improvement in the third quarter relative to the second quarter. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020Q3 (pdf) Last updated: Sep 9 2020 11:27AM After falling from 18 to an all-time low of five in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI rebounded to 24 in the third quarter. Business confidence recovered in all the sectors making up the BCI. Given the close historical relationship between real GDP growth read moreAfter falling from 18 to an all-time low of five in the second quarter, the RMB/BER BCI rebounded to 24 in the third quarter. Business confidence recovered in all the sectors making up the BCI. Given the close historical relationship between real GDP growth and the RMB/BER BCI, the third quarter survey results foreshadow an improvement in the third quarter relative to the second quarter RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020 - Quarter 2 - PDF Last updated: Jun 10 2020 11:54AM COVID-19 has drastically changed the already-weak economic landscape. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to merely five points, the lowest level ever recorded since the BER first began conducting its business confidence survey in 1975. read moreCOVID-19 has drastically changed the already-weak economic landscape. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to merely five points, the lowest level ever recorded since the BER first began conducting its business confidence survey in 1975. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020 - Quarter21 - Excel Last updated: Jun 10 2020 11:53AM COVID-19 has drastically changed the already-weak economic landscape. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to merely five points, the lowest level ever recorded since the BER first began conducting its business confidence survey in 1975. read moreCOVID-19 has drastically changed the already-weak economic landscape. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI) fell to merely five points, the lowest level ever recorded since the BER first began conducting its business confidence survey in 1975. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020 - Quarter 1 - Excel Last updated: Mar 11 2020 11:05AM The RMB/BER BCI slumped by eight points to 18 in the first quarter of 2020 - a 21-year low. Persistent demand weakness, load shedding, bailouts of struggling SOE’s, the deterioration in the government’s finances and the spreading of the coronavirus around the read moreThe RMB/BER BCI slumped by eight points to 18 in the first quarter of 2020 - a 21-year low. Persistent demand weakness, load shedding, bailouts of struggling SOE’s, the deterioration in the government’s finances and the spreading of the coronavirus around the globe all played a role. January’s 25 basis point interest rate cut was a small positive, but not enough to compensate for the negative developments. Since the survey was completed in early March, things have gone from bad to worse on the global front. The RMB/BER BCI will in all likelihood continue to trend lower in the period ahead, with obvious negative consequences for private sector fixed investment. RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (Sectoral and Provincial), 2020 - Quarter 1 - PDF Last updated: Mar 11 2020 11:06AM The RMB/BER BCI slumped by eight points to 18 in the first quarter of 2020 - a 21-year low. Persistent demand weakness, load shedding, bailouts of struggling SOE’s, the deterioration in the government’s finances and the spreading of the coronavirus around the read moreThe RMB/BER BCI slumped by eight points to 18 in the first quarter of 2020 - a 21-year low. Persistent demand weakness, load shedding, bailouts of struggling SOE’s, the deterioration in the government’s finances and the spreading of the coronavirus around the globe all played a role. January’s 25 basis point interest rate cut was a small positive, but not enough to compensate for the negative developments. Since the survey was completed in early March, things have gone from bad to worse on the global front. The RMB/BER BCI will in all likelihood continue to trend lower in the period ahead, with obvious negative consequences for private sector fixed investment.