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.
The OCBC SME Index is a high-frequency index measuring the business health and performance of SMEs in Singapore. Serving more than one in two SMEs in Singapore allows us to derive the OCBC SME Index from real transactional data based on a composite of six indicators. These include collections, payments, cash flow, credit and debit transactions, and balances of OCBC SME customers.
Across multiple industry value chains, each business is just 1 in over 100,000 SMEs that powers the OCBC SME Index. Know where you stand in your industry then stand taller.
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 remained expansionary for the seventh consecutive quarter since 1Q 21. Growth was broad-based, supported by a healthy pick-up in consumer demand and international air travel. Against the backdrop of persistent inflationary pressures and rising interest rates, business sentiment continue to be weighed down by concerns over higher costs going forward.
The positive reading in 3Q 22 was observed across all industries, with the exception of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT). SMEs in Business Services and Manufacturing continue to deliver a strong performance on the back of sustained demand with the re-opening of international borders. F&B rebounded strongly and other consumer-facing services sectors such as Healthcare, Education and Retail also expanded with the boost in domestic spending.
For reference, advance estimates released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry indicated that GDP grew by 4.4% in the third quarter.
“The Singapore economy faces external economic headwinds in the form of imported inflation, geopolitical uncertainties, rising global interest rates and downside growth risks for our major trading partners. While 2022 GDP growth is on track to exceed 3%, the 2023 outlook could be more challenging.”
Selena Ling
Head of Treasury Research and Strategy
Discover the 2022 Q2 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.
Building & Construction grew to 51.8 in 3Q 22 from 51.2, with readings across all segments rising above 51. Collections also increased by 3.3% on a QoQ basis.
Building & Construction grew to 51.8 in 3Q 22 from 51.2, with readings across all segments rising above 51. Collections also increased by 3.3% on a QoQ basis.
Building & Construction grew to 51.8 in 3Q 22 from 51.2, with readings across all segments rising above 51. Collections also increased by 3.3% on a QoQ basis.
Building & Construction grew to 51.8 in 3Q 22 from 51.2, with readings across all segments rising above 51. Collections also increased by 3.3% on a QoQ basis.
Building & Construction grew to 51.8 in 3Q 22 from 51.2, with readings across all segments rising above 51. Collections also increased by 3.3% on a QoQ basis.
Business Services edged higher in the third quarter, picking up its pace of expansion from 52.8 in 2Q 22 to 53.6 in 3Q 22.
Business Services edged higher in the third quarter, picking up its pace of expansion from 52.8 in 2Q 22 to 53.6 in 3Q 22.
Business Services edged higher in the third quarter, picking up its pace of expansion from 52.8 in 2Q 22 to 53.6 in 3Q 22.
Business Services edged higher in the third quarter, picking up its pace of expansion from 52.8 in 2Q 22 to 53.6 in 3Q 22.
Business Services edged higher in the third quarter, picking up its pace of expansion from 52.8 in 2Q 22 to 53.6 in 3Q 22.
Education remained buoyant at 51.2 in 3Q 22, with the Early Childhood Education segment experiencing the largest expansion supported by sustained demand.
Find out more about how the education industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Education remained buoyant at 51.2 in 3Q 22, with the Early Childhood Education segment experiencing the largest expansion supported by sustained demand.
Find out more about how the education industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Education remained buoyant at 51.2 in 3Q 22, with the Early Childhood Education segment experiencing the largest expansion supported by sustained demand.
Find out more about how the education industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Education remained buoyant at 51.2 in 3Q 22, with the Early Childhood Education segment experiencing the largest expansion supported by sustained demand.
Find out more about how the education industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Education remained buoyant at 51.2 in 3Q 22, with the Early Childhood Education segment experiencing the largest expansion supported by sustained demand.
Education remained buoyant at 51.2 in 3Q 22, with the Early Childhood Education segment experiencing the largest expansion supported by sustained demand.
F&B saw an improvement in reading from 51.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.5 in 3Q 22, with collections increasing by 3.8% on a QoQ basis. Growth in the sector was primarily driven by the robust performance in F&B Services, which outweighed the contraction in the F&B Wholesale and F&B Retail segment.
Find out more about how the F&B industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
F&B saw an improvement in reading from 51.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.5 in 3Q 22, with collections increasing by 3.8% on a QoQ basis. Growth in the sector was primarily driven by the robust performance in F&B Services, which outweighed the contraction in the F&B Wholesale and F&B Retail segment.
Find out more about how the F&B industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
F&B saw an improvement in reading from 51.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.5 in 3Q 22, with collections increasing by 3.8% on a QoQ basis. Growth in the sector was primarily driven by the robust performance in F&B Services, which outweighed the contraction in the F&B Wholesale and F&B Retail segment.
Find out more about how the F&B industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
F&B saw an improvement in reading from 51.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.5 in 3Q 22, with collections increasing by 3.8% on a QoQ basis. Growth in the sector was primarily driven by the robust performance in F&B Services, which outweighed the contraction in the F&B Wholesale and F&B Retail segment.
Find out more about how the F&B industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
F&B saw an improvement in reading from 51.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.5 in 3Q 22, with collections increasing by 3.8% on a QoQ basis. Growth in the sector was primarily driven by the robust performance in F&B Services, which outweighed the contraction in the F&B Wholesale and F&B Retail segment.
Healthcare saw a slight uptick in reading at 50.7 in 3Q 22. While Healthcare providers were resilient and expansionary, Healthcare distributors lagged the overall sector.
Find out more about how the healthcare industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Healthcare saw a slight uptick in reading at 50.7 in 3Q 22. While Healthcare providers were resilient and expansionary, Healthcare distributors lagged the overall sector.
Find out more about how the healthcare industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Healthcare saw a slight uptick in reading at 50.7 in 3Q 22. While Healthcare providers were resilient and expansionary, Healthcare distributors lagged the overall sector.
Find out more about how the healthcare industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Healthcare saw a slight uptick in reading at 50.7 in 3Q 22. While Healthcare providers were resilient and expansionary, Healthcare distributors lagged the overall sector.
Information, Communications and Technology went into contractionary territory for the first time since 1Q21. Persistent global chip shortages and supply chain uncertainties weighed on growth for the ICT Manufacturing & Sales segment.
Information, Communications and Technology went into contractionary territory for the first time since 1Q21. Persistent global chip shortages and supply chain uncertainties weighed on growth for the ICT Manufacturing & Sales segment.
Information, Communications and Technology went into contractionary territory for the first time since 1Q21. Persistent global chip shortages and supply chain uncertainties weighed on growth for the ICT Manufacturing & Sales segment.
Information, Communications and Technology went into contractionary territory for the first time since 1Q21. Persistent global chip shortages and supply chain uncertainties weighed on growth for the ICT Manufacturing & Sales segment.
Information, Communications and Technology went into contractionary territory for the first time since 1Q21. Persistent global chip shortages and supply chain uncertainties weighed on growth for the ICT Manufacturing & Sales segment.
Information, Communications and Technology went into contractionary territory for the first time since 1Q21. Persistent global chip shortages and supply chain uncertainties weighed on growth for the ICT Manufacturing & Sales segment.
Manufacturing expanded in the third quarter, with growth moderating slightly from 52.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.3 in 3Q 22. This is supported by robust growth in the Precision Engineering and Consumer Products segments.
Manufacturing expanded in the third quarter, with growth moderating slightly from 52.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.3 in 3Q 22. This is supported by robust growth in the Precision Engineering and Consumer Products segments.
Manufacturing expanded in the third quarter, with growth moderating slightly from 52.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.3 in 3Q 22. This is supported by robust growth in the Precision Engineering and Consumer Products segments.
Manufacturing expanded in the third quarter, with growth moderating slightly from 52.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.3 in 3Q 22. This is supported by robust growth in the Precision Engineering and Consumer Products segments.
Manufacturing expanded in the third quarter, with growth moderating slightly from 52.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.3 in 3Q 22. This is supported by robust growth in the Precision Engineering and Consumer Products segments.
Growth in Transport & Logistics has slowed down after 6 quarters of robust performance, registering a reading of 50.1 in 3Q 22. Elevated oil prices could have dampened demand for the sector.
Find out more about how the Transport & Logistics industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Growth in Transport & Logistics has slowed down after 6 quarters of robust performance, registering a reading of 50.1 in 3Q 22. Elevated oil prices could have dampened demand for the sector.
Find out more about how the Transport & Logistics industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Growth in Transport & Logistics has slowed down after 6 quarters of robust performance, registering a reading of 50.1 in 3Q 22. Elevated oil prices could have dampened demand for the sector.
Find out more about how the Transport & Logistics industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Growth in Transport & Logistics has slowed down after 6 quarters of robust performance, registering a reading of 50.1 in 3Q 22. Elevated oil prices could have dampened demand for the sector.
Find out more about how the Transport & Logistics industry performed in the OCBC SME Index each quarter.
Growth in Transport & Logistics has slowed down after 6 quarters of robust performance, registering a reading of 50.1 in 3Q 22. Elevated oil prices could have dampened demand for the sector.
Wholesale Trade remains expansionary at 51.0, following consecutive quarters of growth.
Retail registered a reading of 50.9 in 3Q 22, similar to the 51.0 recorded in 2Q 22.
Resources continued its expansion in 3Q 22 at 51.1 as collections grew 20.3% QoQ and 21.7% YoY, likely to be driven by high commodity prices.
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1Q 21
The F&B industry turned expansionary at 51.1 in 1Q 21, having dipped to a low of 42.0 in 2Q 20 during the Circuit Breaker.
2Q 21
The F&B industry remains one of the most vulnerable industries despite seeing expansion since the last quarter. The Index rose to 54.7 in 2Q 21 due to 2Q 20's lower base.
3Q 21
The F&B Industry turned contractionary at 48.9 mainly due to the impact of Heightened Alert restrictions. Increased online sales and deliveries offered some support for the industry with a significant growth in collections from digital platforms since 2019.
4Q 21
F&B contracted for a 2nd consecutive quarter in 4Q 21 at 47.9 due mainly to the impact of heightened restrictions.
1Q 22
F&B contracted for a 3rd consecutive quarter at 47.7 as restrictions persisted and firms faced higher costs.
2Q 22
F&B rebounded sharply over the quarter to 51.5 as dine-in restrictions were lifted.
3Q 22
F&B rebounded strongly, extending its gains into 3Q 22 with a jump in reading from 51.5 in 2Q 22 to 52.5 in 3Q 22.
1Q 21
F&B Services, which includes restaurants, cafes, fast food, pubs and cooked food stalls, rose to 50.8 in 1Q 21, breaking 50 for the first time since the pandemic started.
2Q 21
F&B Services registered an expansion of 59.3, showing that the impact of the dine-in restrictions during Phase 2 Heightened Alert was significantly less severe compared to the Circuit Breaker period of the previous year.
3Q 21
F&B Services saw the sharpest drop in its Index to 48.9, as collections dropped YoY in line with lower customer traffic, resulting in deteriorating cash coverage positions.
4Q 21
F&B Services contracted for a 2nd consecutive quarter at 48.0 as collections dropped YoY from tighter restrictions during the Stabilisation Phase.
1Q 22
F&B Services saw collections drop YoY due to a lower 5-pax restriction compared to 8-pax last year, while cash coverage remained worse compared to a year ago.
2Q 22
The F&B Services sub-sector benefitted significantly from the removal of safe distancing measures for dining in as restaurants were met with the pent-up demand from larger dining events as well as stronger visitor traffic.
3Q 22
F&B Services continued on its growth trajectory in 3Q 22, penciling in an expansion of 56.3 as SMEs in the segment benefitted from the rise in tourism arrivals. This also came on the back of a low base one year ago with the suspension of dining-in services during P2HA.
1Q 21
F&B Wholesale Trade remained buoyant at 52.2, especially in the import & export of food.
2Q 21
F&B Wholesale Trade remained resilient as it expanded at 53.5, being able to tap on export demand.
3Q 21
F&B Wholesale Trade registered a slowdown in 3Q 21 but remained expansionary at 50.1.
4Q 21
F&B Wholesale Trade contracted for the first time since 4Q 20 at 48.6.
1Q 22
F&B Wholesale Trade remained in contractionary territory at 48.7, weighed down by rising costs.
2Q 22
F&B Wholesale Trade improved to 50, as trades improved with border reopening but continued to be weighed down by rising food prices and supply chain disruptions.
3Q 22
F&B Wholesale dipped slightly as rising food prices and supply chain disruptions posed a drag on the segment.
1Q 21
F&B Retail remained resilient at 49.8 especially in supermarkets and sundry stores.
2Q 21
F&B Retail remained resilient as it expanded at 51.0.
3Q 21
F&B Retail registered a slowdown in 3Q 21, contracting slightly at 48.5.
4Q 21
F&B Retail recorded its second consecutive quarter of contraction at 47.8.
1Q 22
F&B Retail remained in contractionary territory for a 3rd consecutive quarter at 48.0, weighed down by rising costs.
2Q 22
F&B Retail remained contractionary at 48.7, due to rising food prices and supply chain disruptions.
3Q 22
F&B Retail remained in the contractionary territory at 49.2 in the third quarter.
1Q 21
Green shoots in the industry remained intact. The Healthcare industry registered a reading of 51.3 in 1Q 21 having turned expansionary since 3Q 20, 2 quarters earlier than most industries.
2Q 21
The Healthcare industry remained expansionary at 55.0 in 2Q 21, it's 4th consecutive quarter of expansion.
3Q 21
Healthcare remained one of the most resilient industries and registered its 5th consecutive quarter of expansion at 51.2 in 3Q 21.
4Q 21
Healthcare slowed in 4Q 21 compared to the previous quarter, with a flat reading of 50.0. The industry is likely to remain resilient, supported by increased healthcare spending driven by secular trends such as Singapore's ageing population and the growth in HealthTech.
1Q 22
Healthcare remained flat compared to the previous quarter, with a reading of 50.1.
2Q 22
Healthcare continued flat lining at 50.4, caused primarily by weaker performance of the distributors.
3Q 22
Healthcare saw a slight uptick in reading at 50.7 in 3Q 22, supported by growth in the Healthcare Provider segment.
1Q 21
Healthcare Distributors remained expansionary throughout the pandemic thus far. Healthcare Distributors has stayed expansionary on the back of strong demand for healthcare supplies. The segment remained robust at 52.2 in 1Q 21.
2Q 21
Healthcare Distributors continued seeing strong demand for healthcare supplies, its index saw an uptick to 52.8 in 3Q 21.
3Q 21
Healthcare Distributors remained expansionary but slowed compared to the previous quarter at 50.3 as demand for healthcare supplies saw signs of softening.
4Q 21
Healthcare Distributors turned contractionary for the first time since 1Q 19 at 48.9 as demand for healthcare supplies slowed.
1Q 22
Healthcare Distributors saw an accelerated pace of decline to 47.9 as demand for healthcare supplies continued to drop.
2Q 22
Healthcare Distributors continued its decline at 48.1 as its collections dropped 18% from the high in 2021 led by Covid-related supplies.
3Q 22
Healthcare Distributors contracted for the fourth consecutive quarter with a reading of 48.9 and weighed down on growth in the overall sector. Collections for the segment have also slipped by 16.5% on a QoQ basis.
1Q 21
Healthcare Providers such as clinics were heavily impacted during Circuit Breaker. From a low of 43.8 in 2Q 20, Healthcare Providers turned positive in 4Q 20 and remained expansionary in 1Q 21 at 51.4.
2Q 21
Healthcare Providers saw a strong reading of 58.0, partially driven by 2Q 20's lower base but also a recovery in demand for healthcare services.
3Q 21
Healthcare Providers remained expansionary at 52.1 with collections rising 13% QoQ.
4Q 21
Healthcare Providers saw sustained expansionary activity, registering a 5th consecutive quarter of expansion at 51.7 with collections rising 18% YoY.
1Q 22
Healthcare Providers saw sustained expansionary activity from the Omicron surge, registering an expansionary reading of 51.1 with collections rising 18% YoY.
2Q 22
Healthcare Providers (e.g., Clinics) continued seeing expansionary activity, as Omicron cases remained relatively high, registering an expansionary reading of 51.6 with collections rising 19% YoY.
3Q 22
Healthcare Provider stayed resilient and continue to edge higher in 3Q 22, registering a reading of 51.9.
1Q 21
Green shoots have emerged in the Transport & Logistics industry since 4Q 20 as the industry turned expansionary. The industry remained expansionary in 1Q 21 at 51.9.
2Q 21
The Transport & Logistics industry continued its strong growth as the Index increased to 58.8, partly driven by 2Q 20's lower base.
3Q 21
The Transport & Logistics industry saw its 4th consecutive quarter of expansion at 54.6 in 3Q 21, led by a 57% YoY increase in collections.
4Q 21
Transport & Logistics had its 5th consecutive quarter of expansion at 54.3 in 4Q 21, led by a 53% YoY increase in collections.
1Q 22
Transport & Logistics continued its expansion at 51.4 for a 6th consecutive quarter as collections rose 33% YoY.
2Q 22
Transport & Logistics continued a run of 6 quarters of expansion at 52 as borders opened in 2Q 22.
3Q 22
Growth in the Transport & Logistics slowed down after 6 consecutive quarters of robust performance.
1Q 21
Sea Transport expanded for a 2nd consecutive quarter at 51.8, supported by strong cross-border trade.
2Q 21
The Sea Transport segment extended its expansion, registering a reading of 57.0.
3Q 21
Sea Transport moderated slightly at 54.8 due to 2Q 20's lower base but remained expansionary.
4Q 21
Sea Transport continued its strong performance at 54.5, lifted by growth in trade and e-commerce.
1Q 22
Sea Transport slowed significantly to 51.0 but remained expansionary as supply chains remained under stress from labour shortages and the Russian-Ukraine conflict.
2Q 22
Sea Transport grew at 51.5 as cross border trades strengthened.
3Q 22
Sea Transport saw a drop in reading from 51.5 in 2Q 22 to 50.1 in 3Q 22.
1Q 21
Land Transport continued its expansion at 51.4, having dropped to a trough of 42.2 in 2Q 20.
2Q 21
Land Transport expanded strongly at 57.9 due to 2Q 20's lower, Circuit Breaker-affected base.
3Q 21
Land Transport remained expansionary in 3Q 21 at 51.1 despite the impact on demand from the shift to increased work from home during the quarter.
4Q 21
Land Transport remained flat at 50.0 with tighter restrictions for most of 4Q 21.
1Q 22
Land Transport slipped into contractionary territory at 49.2 but is expected to improve as restrictions eased in end-March.
2Q 22
Land Transport improved to 50.3 as land borders opened.
3Q 22
Land Transport fell to 50.0 in the third quarter as performance in the segment remains weak.
1Q 21
Logistics remained the most resilient segment in the industry, expanding at at 52.1 in 1Q 21.
2Q 21
The Logistics segment continued its strong expansionary performance, recording a reading of 55.2.
3Q 21
Growth in the Logistics remained robust as the segment expanded at 55.0.
4Q 21
Logistics saw accelerating expansion at 56.8, lifted by growth in trade and e-commerce as collections rose significantly by 97% YoY.
1Q 22
Logistics registered a strong reading of 54.1 as collections rose by 67% significantly YoY.
2Q 22
Logistics continued to register a strong growth of 54.2, as collections continued to rise significantly by 53% YoY.
3Q 22
Expansion in the Logistics segment moderated from 54.2 in 2Q 22 to 51.9 in 3Q 22, as elevated oil prices could have dampened demand.
1Q 21
Education turned expansionary at 51.2 in 1Q 21, recovering from a trough of 42.0 in 2Q 20.
2Q 21
Education extended its expansion from the previous quarter at 58.1 in 2Q 21.
3Q 21
Education remained expansionary for a 3rd consecutive quarter at 51.5 in 3Q 21, driven by a 21% increase in collections.
4Q 21
Education moderated in 4Q 21 compared to the previous quarter, with a flat reading of 50.0.
1Q 22
Education fell into contractionary territory with a reading of 49.0.
2Q 22
Education reversed the contraction in 1Q 22, with a reading of 50.1.
3Q 22
Education remained buoyant at 51.2 in 3Q 22, up from 50.1 in the previous quarter.
1Q 21
Early Childhood Education remained slightly below the 50 reading at 49.9, being more vulnerable to restrictions with virtual learning being less feasible compared to other segments.
2Q 21
Early Childhood Education turned expansionary at 55.5 due to 2Q 20's lower base; the segment faced tightened safe management measures due to increased Covid-19 cases linked to care centres.
3Q 21
Early Childhood Education remained expansionary at 50.4. The segment is seeing cautious recovery from tightened measures, in place in Q2 and Q3, caused by increased cases linked to care centers in May and June.
4Q 21
Early Childhood Education remained expansionary at 51.4 with collections growing 26% YoY.
1Q 22
Early Childhood Education remained relatively flat with a reading of 50.1.
2Q 22
Early Childhood Education grew to 51.8 as a higher proportion of parents returned to work at the office.
3Q 22
Early Childhood Education saw the largest expansion within the sector, supported by sustained demand for childcare services.
1Q 21
Training Centres (which includes Training Courses and Academic Tuition) turned expansionary at 50.7 for the first time since the pandemic started.
2Q 21
Training Centres extended its expansion since the previous quarter at 55.9, bouyed by increased uptake of training.
3Q 21
Training Centres continued its growth in 3Q 21 at 52.2 as the pandemic saw a push for up-skilling/re-skilling by the government and increased uptake by workers. For example, Singaporeans utilising SkillsFuture increased by 21% YoY to 188,000 in 2020. The scheme was extended to 80,00 micro-learning courses in September 21.
4Q 21
Training Centres remained expansionary at 50.9 with collections growing 21% YoY.
1Q 22
Training Centres (which includes Training Courses and Academic Tuition) continues to see a slowdown in growth since 3Q 21 as demand slowed.
2Q 22
Training Centres remained neutral at 50.1 as demand had yet to pick up.
3Q 22
Training Centres experienced broad gains, and reading for the segment increased from 50.1 in 2Q 22 to 50.9 in 3Q 22.
1Q 21
Recreation Classes was non-contractionary at 50.0 for the first time since the pandemic started, expanding from the trough of 41.0 in 2Q 20.
2Q 21
Recreation Classes expanded for the first time since the pandemic started at 55.0. The higher reading was mainly due to 2Q 20's lower base. The segment faced tightened safe management measures.
3Q 21
Recreation Classes remained flat at 50.1, as restrictions tightened under Heightened Alert measures.
4Q 21
Recreation Classes saw a steep decline and contracted at 48.0, partly affected by the restriction of group sizes during the Stabilisation Phase.
1Q 22
Recreation Classes remained contractionary at 48.5 but has seen a slight uptick as restrictions eased in late November. Things should improve further with the lifting of class size limits.
2Q 22
Recreation classes benefitted from the lifting of restrictions, moving up to 51.5 with a 25% increase in collections YoY.
3Q 22
Recreation classes saw a slight moderation, from 51.5 in 2Q 22 to 51.0 in 3Q 22.
