Why did Korea's business sentiment fall in September, according to the Bank of Korea?

The survey pointed to increased costs as the main reason for the decline. It said sentiment weakened in manufacturing even as nonmanufacturing improved, showing uneven conditions across sectors.

What were the September CBSI figures for manufacturers and nonmanufacturers in Korea?

The manufacturing CBSI fell to 99.5 from 103.8 in August. The nonmanufacturing index rose to 98.9 from 96.7 over the same period.

What does the Bank of Korea expect for business sentiment in October?

The October outlook index was 99.6, which was unchanged from the previous month. That suggests firms were neither becoming more optimistic nor more pessimistic overall.

Biz sentiment falls in September on rising costs: BOK

Listen

Summary

Korea's business sentiment fell in September as higher costs weighed on companies, according to a Bank of Korea survey. The Composite Business Sentiment Index for all industries came to 99.1, down 0.5 point from August. Manufacturing sentiment weakened sharply, while nonmanufacturing sentiment improved. The outlook for October was 99.6, unchanged from the previous month.

Key Facts

The Composite Business Sentiment Index for all industries stood at 99.1 in September, down 0.5 point from August.
The index had reached 102 in August, its highest level since September 2022.
Manufacturers posted a CBSI of 99.5 in September, down from 103.8 the previous month.
The nonmanufacturing index rose to 98.9 from 96.7 over the same period.
The October outlook stood at 99.6, unchanged from the previous month.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 29, 2026 7:49 am KST

Containers are stacked at a port in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 6. Yonhap

Korea's business sentiment contracted in September from a nearly four-year high in August, largely due to increased costs, a central bank survey showed Tuesday.

The Composite Business Sentiment Index (CBSI) for all industries stood at 99.1 in September, down 0.5 point from the previous month, according to data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The reading rose to the highest level in August since September 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic, with the index reaching 102.

The index measures corporate outlooks on overall business conditions, with a reading below 100 indicating that pessimists outnumber optimists.

The BOK said sentiment in the non-manufacturing sector, including transportation and leisure, improved, while the manufacturing sector suffered a decline in the business sentiment.

The CBSI among manufacturers stood at 99.5 this month, down from 103.8 the previous month, while the index for nonmanufacturing companies increased to 98.9 from 96.7 over the cited period.

The outlook for October stood at 99.6, unchanged from the previous month, the survey showed.

Explore More