Peru: Business sentiment at all-time low in March on coronavirus fears
The business confidence indicator dived from February’s 48.2 points to 21.8 points in March, amid mounting fears of a blow to the global economy from the coronavirus pandemic and associated containment measures. Thus, the indicator logged the worst reading in its history and plunged below the 50-point threshold that separates pessimism from optimism.
March’s slump reflected a broad-based worsening in the index’s sub-components. Expectations on the general economic situation in the next 3 months collapsed, as did businesses perceptions of the conditions of the sector in the next 3 and 12 months as well as the outlook on the company’s financial situation and on the demand for the company’s products in the same time horizons. Lastly, expectations on the general economic situation in the next 12 months also worsened considerable.