Composite index points to sharper caution

The November figure, published on KIET's press release page and blog along with the monthly barometer chart, marks a drop of 11 points from the prior month. The decrease spans the survey respondents across the manufacturing sector covered by the index.

The chart released by KIET (jpeg format) presents the November reading as the latest data point in the institute's regularly published business expectations series. The image attached to the press materials, distributed through Yonhap's image service, shows the decline in the headline index.

What the index measures

The KIET business survey index captures manufacturers' expectations for business conditions in the coming month, based on responses collected from companies in the sector. A falling reading indicates that surveyed firms expect conditions to worsen relative to the previous survey.

No breakdown by subsector or firm size was included in the materials reviewed for this report, and KIET has not attributed the November decline to specific causes in the summary data made public so far.

The 11-point drop in the manufacturing expectations index for November is accurate as reported. Verdict: True