• SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge's autumn business confidence index fell to 51% from 53%, its lowest since spring 2023.
• Profitability and order backlog expectations both stood at 49%, below the neutral 50% threshold, signaling a deterioration over the next 12 months.
• The employment expectations index dropped to 52% from 56%, with more businesses planning workforce reductions.
• Manufacturing supported the overall outlook, with businesses expecting higher profitability, investment and employment.
• Construction remained contractionary despite its index rising to 47% from 42%, with western regions outperforming the east.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Sparebank 1 Sor-Norge ASA published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.