TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bank Indonesia's (BI) Business Survey (SKDU) indicates that business activities grew positively in the fourth quarter of 2021. This is reflected in the Weighted Net Balance (WNB) value of 7.10 percent.

According to BI head of communications Erwin Haryono, the value was slightly lower than the 7.58 in Q3/2021. "However, it increased compared to 2020 fourth quarter's WNB of minus 3.90 percent," he said in a written statement Friday, January 14.

Business performance improvements are indicated in the Manufacturing, Trade, Hotel and Restaurant and Transportation, and Communications sectors, driven by increased demand that came with mobility restriction policies (PPKM) relaxations in various provinces, as well as the Christmas and year-end holiday period.

As business activities grew, the used production capacity in Q4 stood at 72.60 percent, slightly lower than Q3's 73.30 percent but higher than the 71.96 percent recorded in Q4/2020.

Labor use was indicated as having improved as well albeit still contracted. Meanwhile, the business world's finances were indicated as improving from the previous period, both in terms of liquidity and profitability, supported by easier access to financing.

"In the first quarter of 2022, respondents predict that business activities will increase with a WNB of 9.39 percent," he said.

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HENDARTYO HANGGI