The main objective of this survey is to measure the expected business performance of Malaysia economic sectors for the first quarter 2015.

This report published the statistics of current business situation for the fourth quarter of 2014, business expectation for the first quarter of 2015 and the upcoming six months period of January to June 2015.

BUSINESS PERFORMANCE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER 2014

The business performance in the fourth quarter of 2014 showed positive net balance (+4.1%) for number of employees, while gross revenue showed negative net balance   (-1.3%).

Industrial Sector
The industrial sector recorded a net balance of -9.8 per cent for gross revenue and -2.6 per cent for number of employees in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Electricity & water industry showed a positive net balance in terms of number of employees (+9.1%). 

However, the mining and manufacturing industries registered negative net balances for gross revenue -26.7 per cent and -4.6 per cent respectively.

Construction Sector
The construction sector recorded positive net balance for gross revenue (+15.0%) but the number of employees remains unchanged.

Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector
The wholesale and retail trade sector showed negative net balance for gross revenue   (-13.4%) in the fourth quarter of 2014. However, the number of employees recorded a positive net balance at +11.6 per cent.

Services Sector
The services sector recorded positive net balances for gross revenue (+18.6%) and number of employees (+13.8%) in the fourth quarter of 2014.

In terms of gross revenue, the insurance industry registered the highest positive net balance at +50.0 per cent followed by transport (+41.1%), hotel (+35.5%), communications (+25.0%) and finance (+12.5%). However, the real estate industry showed a negative net balance (-45.5%).   

In terms of number of employees, the insurance industry recorded the highest positive net balance at +50.0 per cent followed by communications, finance and transport industries which showed a net balance of +25.0 per cent, +12.5 per cent and +5.9 per cent respectively. On the other hand, the information & communications technology and real estate industries registered negative net balances -17.6 per cent and -9.1 per cent respectively. 

FORECAST FOR THE FIRST QUARTER 2015

The gross revenue and number of employees are expected to increase in the first quarter of 2015. This is showed by net balances of +8.4 per cent and +8.8 per cent respectively. The confidence indicator is expected to record a positive value (+4.2%) in the first quarter of 2015.

Industrial Sector
The industrial sector expected positive increases of +3.3 and +3.5 per cent in the gross revenue and number of employees in the first quarter of 2015. The electricity & water industry shows the highest positive net balance in terms of gross revenue (+45.5%) and number of employees (+9.1%). The confidence indicator is expected to be negative      (-1.5%).

Construction Sector
The construction sector expected an increase in gross revenue and number of employees by +10.0 per cent respectively in the first quarter of 2015. The confidence indicator is expected to be positive (+13.1%).

Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector
The wholesale and retail trade sector is expected to improve in gross revenue (+10.8%) and number of employees (+13.5%) in the first quarter of 2015. The confidence indicator is expected to be positive (+2.5%).
 

Services Sector

The gross revenue and number of employees for the services sector are expected to be positive during the reference period as indicated by net balances of +16.8 per cent and +16.3 per cent respectively. The confidence indicator is expected to be positive (+14.8%).

BUSINESS TENDENCY FOR JANUARY-JUNE 2015

The business situation is expected to improve in the next six months as shown by the net balance of +11.2 per cent.

Industrial Sector
The industrial sector expected better business prospects for the period of January to June 2015 (+7.1%). The mining industry forecasted the highest net balance with a positive net balance (+20.0%) followed by electricity & water industry (+18.2%), agriculture (+13.0%) and manufacturing (+1.0%).

Construction Sector
The business situation of construction sector is expected to improve for the coming six months with a net balance of +15.0 per cent.
 

Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector
For the next six months, establishment in the wholesale and retail trade sector forecasted a business situation declined with negative net balance (-1.8%).
 

Services Sector
The services sector expected a thriving business in the coming six months ending June 2015 as indicated by a positive net balance (+25.1%). Among the industries which anticipated better business situation are communications (+50.0%), transport (+47.0%) and insurance (+37.5%). However, the business situation for real estate and hotel industries is expected to decline-36.4 per cent and -3.2 per cent respectively.