Business sentiment worsened this month due to a surge in COVID-19 infections and rising oil prices. 

According to the Bank of Korea on Wednesday, the business survey index(BSI) for all industries stood at 84 for September, down three from the previous month.  

A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists.   

The BSI for manufacturers also dropped five points on-month to 90 in September. The BSI for non-manufacturers, which includes restaurants, wholesalers and retail businesses, fell two points to 79. 

A BOK official attributed the worsened BSI to the continued nationwide spread of the virus, rising oil prices, a decrease in working days due to the Chuseok holiday and a shortage of chip supply. 

Meanwhile, local firms' business outlook for October also fell one point on-month to 86.