FORECAST OF BUSINESS PERFORMANCE FOR THE SECOND QUARTER 2022

Businesses remain positive on business prospects for the second quarter of 2022 albeit at a slower pace by confidence indicator registering +3.5 per cent compared to +7.6 per cent in the last quarter .

All sectors except for Construction sector anticipate better business condition in the second quarter of 2022. Wholesale & Retail Trade sector is the most optimistic towards its business outlook. Confidence indicator for Wholesale & Retail Trade increase for three quarters in a row, with +15.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2022 from +4.0 per cent in the preceding quarter. Brighter sentiment in both subsectors namely Wholesale Trade subsector as well as Retail Trade subsector has led to this improvement. Meanwhile, Services sector predicts business situation to improve at a moderate rate with confidence indicator +5.6 per cent compared to +11.1 per cent in the last quarter. Concurrently, Industry sector expects their business performance to grow at a slower pace in the second quarter of 2022 with +0.8 per cent. The Agriculture and Mining subsectors in particular anticipate unfavourable business condition in the reference quarter.

On the other hand, confidence indicator for Construction sector posted better negative in the second quarter of 2022 with -23.2 per cent as against -40.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2022.

Exhibit I: Quarterly Confidence Indicator by Sector, Malaysia, 2020-2022

Expectations of Gross Revenue and Number of Employees                 

In terms of gross revenue, 45.2 per cent of respondents predict their gross revenue to increase in the second quarter of 2022 while 19.0 per cent expect reduction which further leads to a net balance of +26.2 per cent. Simultaneously, 35.8 per cent of respondents anticipate their gross revenue to stagnant.

In the same quarter, 72.2 per cent of the businesses expect their manpower to remain the same despite the net balance of +10.8 per cent. Correspondingly, 19.3 per cent of businesses intend to hire more manpower, whilst 8.5 per cent plan to reduce their manpower in the second quarter of 2022.

Exhibit II: Expected of Net Balance Gross Revenue and Number of Employees, 2020-2022

EXPECTATIONS OF BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2022

In the next six months for the period of April to September 2022, businesses remain optimistic on their business outlook with a net balance of +25.0 per cent, slightly increase against +18.9 per cent recorded previously. Better sentiments of Wholesale & Retail Trade, Industry and Services sectors attributed to this positive insight. The Wholesale & Retail Trade sector anticipates favourable business outlook in the forthcoming six months with a net balance of +50.0 per cent as against +27.0 per cent for the first half of 2022. At the same time, Industry sector expects better business situation with a net balance of +22.1 per cent from +17.7 per cent recorded previously. Services sector also foresees positive business situation with  a net balance of +23.6 per cent, remaining at positive trajectory

In contrast, Construction sector is likely to remain in the pessimist trajectory for the term of April to September 2022 with an improved net balance to -25.0 per cent as against -30.8 per cent.

Exhibit III: Net Balance of Business Performance Expectation for Upcoming Six Month by Sector, Malaysia, 2019-2022

The full publication of the Business Tendency Statistics Second Quarter 2022 can be downloaded through   eStatistik portal.

Released by:

THE OFFICE OF CHIEF STATISTICIAN MALAYSIA

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, MALAYSIA

26 May 2022

Contact person:

Mohd Yusrizal Ab Razak 
Public Relation Officer
Strategic Communication and International Division
Department of Statistics, Malaysia
Tel : +603-8885 7942
Fax : +603-8888 9248
Email : yusrizal.razak[at]dosm.gov.my