More firms expect business conditions to improve in Q4

The transport sector expects a slump, whilst food, hotel, and financing services are optimistic.

About 14% of firms surveyed expect their business situation to improve in the fourth quarter (Q4), up from 10% in Q3, according to the Census and Statistics Department’s (C&SD) Quarterly Business Tendency Survey.

Meanwhile, only 9% expect business conditions to worsen, down from 14% in Q3.

More respondents in the accommodation and food services, and financing and insurance sectors expect business conditions to improve in Q4, whilst those in transportation, storage, and courier services expect them to worsen.

More respondents in the accommodation and food services, manufacturing, financing and insurance, and retail sectors expect a higher volume of output in Q4.

Employment is expected to increase in accommodation and food services and real estate, but decline in information and communications and construction sectors.

More respondents in accommodation and food services, and transportation, storage, and courier services expect prices or service charges to rise, whilst those in construction expect tender prices to fall.