Risk and sentiment
Korea All-Industry Business Outlook BSI
A monthly survey index of how Korean firms across all industries expect business conditions to develop. Above 100 more companies expect improvement than deterioration; below 100 the balance is negative.
At a glance
Korea All-Industry Business Outlook BSI: latest value and prior change
As of 2026-08-31, Korea All-Industry Business Outlook BSI is 76.00 idx. It is 1.00 idx higher than 75.00 idx on 2026-07-31.
Across 50 available observations from 2022-07-31 to 2026-08-31, the latest value is at the tie-adjusted 89th percentile.
- Observed on
- Default comparison window
- 2022-07-31–2026-08-31
- Observations · observed cadence
- 50 · Monthly
- Data source
- Bank of Korea ECOS
A high or low percentile does not by itself make the indicator positive, negative, or a buy or sell signal.
Time-series chart
Korea All-Industry Business Outlook BSI
2022-07-31–2026-08-31
Long-history series are stored as real provider observations. Index, FX, VIX, and ratio charts use historical backfill where providers expose it; Korean investor flow and margin-credit feeds expand as stable historical endpoints become available.
Recent observations and calculated changes
The ten latest chart observations. Change subtracts the previous observation; intervals vary with holidays, release schedules and missing data. A difference in rates or ratios is not an investment return.
| Observed | Value | Previous date | Difference (current − previous) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 | 76.00 idx | 2026-07-31 | 1.00 idx |
| 2026-07-31 | 75.00 idx | 2026-06-30 | -1.00 idx |
| 2026-06-30 | 76.00 idx | 2026-05-31 | 5.00 idx |
| 2026-05-31 | 71.00 idx | 2026-04-30 | 0.00 idx |
| 2026-04-30 | 71.00 idx | 2026-03-31 | -4.00 idx |
| 2026-03-31 | 75.00 idx | 2026-02-28 | 5.00 idx |
| 2026-02-28 | 70.00 idx | 2026-01-31 | 1.00 idx |
| 2026-01-31 | 69.00 idx | 2025-12-31 | -1.00 idx |
| 2025-12-31 | 70.00 idx | 2025-11-30 | -1.00 idx |
| 2025-11-30 | 71.00 idx | 2025-10-31 | 4.00 idx |
Source: Bank of Korea ECOS
Interpretation guide
Interpreting the business outlook BSI without level traps
The Korea All-Industry Business Outlook BSI, from the Bank of Korea's monthly business survey, nets the share of firms expecting conditions to improve against those expecting deterioration. The formula puts the optimism boundary at 100, but Korean BSI readings sit structurally below that line, so the raw level cannot be taken at face value.
Why sub-100 is the norm
Korean firms answer surveys conservatively, keeping the BSI below 100 even in decent conditions. The practical benchmarks are therefore the index's position against its own long-run average and its month-over-month direction, not the theoretical midpoint.
- Check the reading against its long-term average before asking whether it clears 100.
- Two to three consecutive months in one direction qualify as a genuine shift in business sentiment.
- Distinguish technical rebounds after a steep drop from actual trend reversals.
Split manufacturing from non-manufacturing
The all-industry composite blends two sectors that can move in opposite directions, letting the headline mask what is happening. Manufacturing BSI tracks exports and the inventory cycle, while non-manufacturing BSI responds to domestic and service demand.
- If manufacturing outlook drives the gain, confirm alignment with Korea Exports YoY.
- Weakness confined to non-manufacturing points to domestic demand; check Korea Retail Sales YoY.
- A widening gap between large-firm and SME readings questions how broadly any recovery is spreading.
Limits as a market signal
Outlook and actual-conditions BSI are published separately, and optimism in the outlook series that actuals never confirm suggests expectations ran ahead of reality. As a diffusion survey it indicates direction, not magnitude, and should be treated accordingly.
- Pair each outlook improvement with the following month's actual-conditions BSI for confirmation.
- Agreement with the household-side Korea Consumer Sentiment index raises confidence in the signal.
- Until hard data such as Korea Industrial Production YoY follows, treat sentiment gains as provisional.