FCIJ Business Confidence Survey: Spring 2009 results
Some bright spots on the horizon?
FCIJ Business Confidence Survey - Spring 2009
The Foreign Chambers in Japan (FCIJ) has been conducting Business Confidence surveys online twice a year since 2002 among foreign-affiliated companies in Japan. The fifteenth survey was conducted between April 13 and 24, 2009, and received 451 valid responses, an 8% increase from the Fall 2008 survey.
Although reported sales and profitability figures for the past six months were the worst in the history of this survey (since 2002) with sales having an index of -0.56 on the scale from +2 to -2 (compared to +0.10 in the fall 2008 survey and profitability - 0.44 (+0.03), this survey shows that the surveyed companies see some bright spots on the horizon.
The economy for the next 6 months is still expected to slide, -0.44 (compared to -0.91 in fall 2008), but looking 12 months ahead, the companies see a turn for the better - the index shows +0.21 (-0.55 in the previous survey). Even more importantly, the forecasts for the coming six months for sales and profitability both show a growth, small but still. The sales forecast index was +0.15 (previous survey -0.05) and that for profitability +0.13 (-0.12). Only 9% expect a further strong decline in sales and profitability, while 48% and 46% respectively see strong of some improvement.
The next survey will be conducted in October 2009.
For the full report, click http://www.fcc.or.jp/fcij/bcs.html !
