Business Sentiment Improves for 4th Straight Month in June

South Korea’s business sentiment improved for a fourth consecutive month in June, but remained pessimistic. 

According to the Bank of Korea on Thursday, the Business Survey Index(BSI) for all industries stood at 95-point-seven in June, up two-point-eight points from the previous month.

The index rose for the fourth month in a row after falling to 87-point-eight in February.

 A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists.

The BSI for manufacturers also gained three points month-on-month to reach 97-point-four in June, posting growth for the third straight month to hit the highest reading since August 2022. 

The index for non-manufacturing industries, which includes restaurants, wholesalers and retail businesses, reached 94-point-three, up two-point-five points from a month ago, growing for the fourth consecutive month. 

Meanwhile, local firms’ business outlook for July marked 93-point-one, up tone-point-three points from the previous month.