기업 경기전망 금융위기 이래 10년만에 최악…"내수침체 심화"<br /><br />Latest data released by the Korea Economic Research Institute shows local companies are pessimistic about overall business conditions for next month.<br />The report pointed out low domestic demand and uncertainties in exports as the key contributing factors.<br />Ko Roon-hee provides a closer look. <br />According to the Korea Economic Research Institute on Tuesday, local firms have a grim outlook for the nation's economy in February.<br />Based on a survey of the top 6-hundred companies in terms of sales, the business sentiment forecast for next month hit 81-point-1... the lowest forecast since the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2009. <br />A reading below 100 means there are more pessimists about the local economy than optimists.<br />The institute pointed to reasons at home and abroad for the bleak outlook.<br />Businesses were worried over weak domestic demand... meaning many aren't willing to invest in facilities or construction. <br />This comes after a rise in labor costs... stemming from the more than 10-percent increase in the minimum wage in 2019. <br />Another big reason came from concerns over export conditions.<br />Last week, Chinese officials announced that China's economy expanded by 6-point-6-percent in 2018... the lowest figure since 1990.<br />This has negatively affected Korean companies' sentiment... with many firms relying heavily on exports to China. <br />The institute added that reports about the decrease in exports also played a role.<br />According to the Korea Customs Service, exports were down almost 15-percent on-year in the first 20 days of January.<br />This is mainly due to a fall in chip shipments... which declined almost 30 percent.<br />The situation for small and medium-sized businesses isn't looking great either.<br />According to a separate report by the Korea Federation of SMEs, the business sentiment outlook among these firms for February was at its lowest since 2015.<br />The report also pointed to the rise in labor costs and concerns over exports. <br />To improve the current situation, researchers point to the importance of the government producing tangible results in its deregulation and innovative growth policies. <br />Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News. <br />
