SME Index
Real data. Real insights.

Measuring business health and performance of SMEs in Singapore.

The OCBC SME Index is the only quantitative index in Singapore powered by real transactional data from over 100,000 SMEs and 5 million data points with comprehensive coverage across industry value chains.

Real data. Real insights.

Gain insights into how SMEs are emerging from the pandemic, navigating disruptions and opportunities in digitalisation, transforming industries and shifting towards sustainability.

100,000

SMEs

5M

Data Points

Who powers the OCBC SME Index?

Across multiple industry value chains, each business is just 1 in over 100,000 SMEs that powers the OCBC SME Index.

51% of the 1,200 SME business owners surveyed in the 1Q 2024 OCBC SME Business Outlook poll expect their businesses to perform better over the next 6 months.

Business sentiments have turned more optimistic as compared to the previous quarter, but sectoral outlook is mixed as SMEs in industries such as Building & Construction and ICT showed less confidence in the economic conditions moving ahead.

Know where you stand in your industry then stand taller.

SME Index & GDP Nowcast Comparison

The OCBC SME Index is centred on a score of 50, which represents zero change in the inputs from a year ago. A reading above 50 indicates an improvement while a sub-50 reading indicates a deterioration relative to the same period a year ago.

The OCBC SME Index registered a reading of 49.7 in 1Q 2024, edging up by 0.2 from 4Q 2023 but remaining contractionary for the fifth consecutive quarter.

The GDP Nowcast estimates GDP using the latest OCBC SME Index.

The 1Q 2024 GDP Nowcast is projected at 2.5%, lower than the 2.8% growth in the previous quarter.

Expert insights

“Despite a slightly bumpy start, the Singapore economy is on track to accelerate from 1.1% GDP growth in 2023 to slightly above 2% YoY in 2024 as the manufacturing, especially electronics, industries improve and international visitors pick up. However, SMEs are still facing challenges of elevated business costs and an external demand environment. ”

Selena Ling
Head of Treasury Research and Strategy

EXPLORE THE DATA

Discover the 2024 Q1 edition of the SME Index. It will help you identify where you stand within your industry value chain and understand the performance of your industry. Be nimble in spotting industry changes and trends.

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industry

Building and Construction contracted marginally at 49.9, weighed down by a weaker reading in the Construction segment.

Building and Construction contracted marginally at 49.9, weighed down by a weaker reading in the Construction segment.

Building and Construction contracted marginally at 49.9, weighed down by a weaker reading in the Construction segment.

Building and Construction contracted marginally at 49.9, weighed down by a weaker reading in the Construction segment.

Building and Construction contracted marginally at 49.9, weighed down by a weaker reading in the Construction segment.

Business Services contracted for another quarter with a reading of 49.4, primarily attributed to slowdown in the Business Consultancy segment. On the other hand, the Advertising and Exhibition segment continues to see healthy expansions.

Business Services contracted for another quarter with a reading of 49.4, primarily attributed to slowdown in the Business Consultancy segment. On the other hand, the Advertising and Exhibition segment continues to see healthy expansions.

Business Services contracted for another quarter with a reading of 49.4, primarily attributed to slowdown in the Business Consultancy segment. On the other hand, the Advertising and Exhibition segment continues to see healthy expansions.

Business Services contracted for another quarter with a reading of 49.4, primarily attributed to slowdown in the Business Consultancy segment. On the other hand, the Advertising and Exhibition segment continues to see healthy expansions.

Education turned expansionary in 1Q 2024, with an improvement in reading from 49.7 to 50.5. Growth was supported by expansion in the Training Centres and Recreation Classes segments.

Find out more about how the education industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Education turned expansionary in 1Q 2024, with an improvement in reading from 49.7 to 50.5. Growth was supported by expansion in the Training Centres and Recreation Classes segments.

Find out more about how the education industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Education turned expansionary in 1Q 2024, with an improvement in reading from 49.7 to 50.5. Growth was supported by expansion in the Training Centres and Recreation Classes segments.

Find out more about how the education industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Education turned expansionary in 1Q 2024, with an improvement in reading from 49.7 to 50.5. Growth was supported by expansion in the Training Centres and Recreation Classes segments.

Find out more about how the education industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Education turned expansionary in 1Q 2024, with an improvement in reading from 49.7 to 50.5. Growth was supported by expansion in the Training Centres and Recreation Classes segments.

Education turned expansionary in 1Q 2024, with an improvement in reading from 49.7 to 50.5. Growth was supported by expansion in the Training Centres and Recreation Classes segments.

F&B grew to 50.2 this quarter and recorded a rise in reading from the 49.6 registered last quarter. Expansion in the sector was primarily driven by the F&B Retail segment, in line with the healthy gains seen in the overall Retail sector.

Find out more about how the F&B industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

F&B grew to 50.2 this quarter and recorded a rise in reading from the 49.6 registered last quarter. Expansion in the sector was primarily driven by the F&B Retail segment, in line with the healthy gains seen in the overall Retail sector.

Find out more about how the F&B industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

F&B grew to 50.2 this quarter and recorded a rise in reading from the 49.6 registered last quarter. Expansion in the sector was primarily driven by the F&B Retail segment, in line with the healthy gains seen in the overall Retail sector.

Find out more about how the F&B industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

F&B grew to 50.2 this quarter and recorded a rise in reading from the 49.6 registered last quarter. Expansion in the sector was primarily driven by the F&B Retail segment, in line with the healthy gains seen in the overall Retail sector.

Find out more about how the F&B industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

F&B grew to 50.2 this quarter and recorded a rise in reading from the 49.6 registered last quarter. Expansion in the sector was primarily driven by the F&B Retail segment, in line with the healthy gains seen in the overall Retail sector.

Healthcare contracted at 49.4, with both the Healthcare Distributor and Healthcare Provider segments underperforming against the challenging operating environment.

Find out more about how the healthcare industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Healthcare contracted at 49.4, with both the Healthcare Distributor and Healthcare Provider segments underperforming against the challenging operating environment.

Find out more about how the healthcare industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Healthcare contracted at 49.4, with both the Healthcare Distributor and Healthcare Provider segments underperforming against the challenging operating environment.

Find out more about how the healthcare industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Healthcare contracted at 49.4, with both the Healthcare Distributor and Healthcare Provider segments underperforming against the challenging operating environment.

The contraction in ICT narrowed marginally as the sector contracted for the seventh consecutive quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 28.4% and 25.3% respectively, dragged down by the drop in overseas collections and payments.

The contraction in ICT narrowed marginally as the sector contracted for the seventh consecutive quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 28.4% and 25.3% respectively, dragged down by the drop in overseas collections and payments.

The contraction in ICT narrowed marginally as the sector contracted for the seventh consecutive quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 28.4% and 25.3% respectively, dragged down by the drop in overseas collections and payments.

The contraction in ICT narrowed marginally as the sector contracted for the seventh consecutive quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 28.4% and 25.3% respectively, dragged down by the drop in overseas collections and payments.

The contraction in ICT narrowed marginally as the sector contracted for the seventh consecutive quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 28.4% and 25.3% respectively, dragged down by the drop in overseas collections and payments.

The contraction in ICT narrowed marginally as the sector contracted for the seventh consecutive quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 28.4% and 25.3% respectively, dragged down by the drop in overseas collections and payments.

Manufacturing contracted slightly in 1Q 2024 with a reading of 49.8. Overall collections for the sector grew by 4.7% on-year, while payments slipped by 0.3% on-year. Growth was dampened by weak performance in the Consumer Products (49.5) segment.

Manufacturing contracted slightly in 1Q 2024 with a reading of 49.8. Overall collections for the sector grew by 4.7% on-year, while payments slipped by 0.3% on-year. Growth was dampened by weak performance in the Consumer Products (49.5) segment.

Manufacturing contracted slightly in 1Q 2024 with a reading of 49.8. Overall collections for the sector grew by 4.7% on-year, while payments slipped by 0.3% on-year. Growth was dampened by weak performance in the Consumer Products (49.5) segment.

Manufacturing contracted slightly in 1Q 2024 with a reading of 49.8. Overall collections for the sector grew by 4.7% on-year, while payments slipped by 0.3% on-year. Growth was dampened by weak performance in the Consumer Products (49.5) segment.

Manufacturing contracted slightly in 1Q 2024 with a reading of 49.8. Overall collections for the sector grew by 4.7% on-year, while payments slipped by 0.3% on-year. Growth was dampened by weak performance in the Consumer Products (49.5) segment.

Transport & Logistics continues on an upward trajectory but remains in contractionary territory, registering a reading of 49.7 this quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 6.2% and 4.3% respectively.

Find out more about how the Transport & Logistics industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Transport & Logistics continues on an upward trajectory but remains in contractionary territory, registering a reading of 49.7 this quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 6.2% and 4.3% respectively.

Find out more about how the Transport & Logistics industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Transport & Logistics continues on an upward trajectory but remains in contractionary territory, registering a reading of 49.7 this quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 6.2% and 4.3% respectively.

Find out more about how the Transport & Logistics industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Transport & Logistics continues on an upward trajectory but remains in contractionary territory, registering a reading of 49.7 this quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 6.2% and 4.3% respectively.

Find out more about how the Transport & Logistics industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.

Transport & Logistics continues on an upward trajectory but remains in contractionary territory, registering a reading of 49.7 this quarter. Overall collections and payments fell by 6.2% and 4.3% respectively.

Wholesale Trade

Wholesale Trade contracted at 49.4 this quarter, led by a 2.9% fall in collections and 3.9% fall in payments on a year-on-year basis.

Retail

Retail continues to expand at a steady pace, registering a reading of 50.9 this quarter.

Resources

Resources improved to 49.9 this quarter, up from the 49.7 registered in 4Q 2023.

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