BEIJING, Jan 9 (Reuters) - China's business confidence index plunged 29.2 points in the fourth quarter of 2008 to a record low of 94.6, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday.
The bureau surveys 19,500 enterprises of all types to compile the index, which is meant to represent firms' views on the overall economic environment and macroeconomic policy.
The business climate index, a separate measure of the conditions facing firms, fell 21.6 points to 107.0 in the fourth quarter, the statistics agency added.
Business confidence index: Q408 Q308 Q208 Q108 Q407 Q307 Q207 Q107 Q406 94.6 123.8 134.8 140.6 139.6 143.0 143.1 142.0 135.3 (Reporting by Zhou Xin; Writing by Jason Subler; Editing by Ken Wills) ((jason.subler@thomsonreuters.com; +8610 6627 1215; Reuters Messaging: jason.subler.reuters.com@reuters.net))