[Saitama Prefecture] Results of the Saitama Prefecture Quarterly Business Trend Survey (January-March 2026) and Announcement of the "Saitama Prefecture Quarterly Business Trend Survey Data Site"

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Saitama Prefecture Quarterly Business Trend Survey and when were the latest results released?

A: The Saitama Prefecture Quarterly Business Trend Survey is conducted on 2,200 SMEs in the prefecture. The results for the January-March 2026 period were compiled and announced recently.

Q: What specific topics were investigated in the January-March 2026 survey in addition to regular business sentiment?

A: In addition to regular surveys on business sentiment, this quarter's survey also investigated 'price pass-through' and 'the status of DX initiatives'.

Q: How did the overall business sentiment DI for SMEs in Saitama Prefecture change in the January-March 2026 period?

A: The business sentiment DI for all industries was -37.6, which is a decrease of 0.4 points from the previous quarter, indicating a worsening for the first time in three quarters.

Q: What was the outlook for business sentiment among SMEs in Saitama Prefecture for the next quarter (April-June 2026)?

A: The business sentiment outlook DI for the next quarter (April-June 2026) is -12.7, showing an improvement of 6.0 points from the previous quarter, marking the first improvement in two quarters.

Q: What percentage of companies reported being able to sufficiently negotiate prices with ordering companies in the survey?

A: Regarding price pass-through, 57.5% of companies responded that they are able to sufficiently negotiate (consult on) prices with ordering companies, an increase of 2.9 points from the previous survey.