In the fourth quarter of 2004, the confidence index of nationwide entrepreneurs was 130.8, down by 1.7 over the third quarter and down by 2.9 points over the same period of last year, but it was still staying on the high level of over 130 points, indicating that the most entrepreneurs held the good confidence and expectation to the present and future development of the macro-economy.

   Analyzed by industry, the entrepreneur confidence index of mining and real estate climbed on the high level. In the fourth quarter, the entrepreneur confidence indices were 171.1 and 141.7 respectively, up by 5.3 and 2.6 points over the third quarter; those of manufacturing, construction, transport, storage and postal services, information transmission, computer services & software，boarding & catering services were 128.8, 124.9, 129.5, 153.5 and 124.8 respectively, keeping the same level with the third quarter; the entrepreneur confidence indices of production and supply of electricity, fuel gas and water, wholesale & retail trade, social services were 139.6、122.6和125.1, down by 8.6, 7.5 and 4.4 points respectively.

    Analyzed by ownership type, the entrepreneur confidence indices of state-owned, private enterprises and other domestic-funded enterprises maintained the steady trend. In the fourth quarter, the entrepreneur confidence index were 129.9, 123.3 and 122.5, staying on the same level with the third quarter; the entrepreneur confidence index of joint-management enterprises were 124.7, up by 16.0 points over the third quarter; those of collective-owned enterprises, share cooperation enterprises, limited liability enterprises, share limited liability enterprises, foreign, Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan investment enterprises were 112.7, 118.5, 129.9, 142.6 and 136.0, down by 1.9, 4.3, 3.4, 2.1 and 1.2 respectively.

    Analyzed by enterprise size, the entrepreneur confidence index of large, medium and small size all declined slightly. In the fourth quarter, the entrepreneur confidence index of large, medium and small size enterprises were 147.7, 122.6 and 113.5 points, down by 2.9, 0.9 and 1.2 points.