Xinhua Finance and Market News International, a part of the news service line of Xinhua Finance, announced the April Xinhua Finance/MNI China Business Sentiment Survey. After rebounding in March from the one-off effects of big spring snowstorms, Chinese business sentiment has plunged again as companies are caught between still-rising input costs and government measures to control inflation, results of the survey suggest.

The headline overall sentiment index for April hit an all-time low of 55.81, down from 65.69 in March and 83.96 a year ago. The index showing sentiment for business conditions in three months also plunged to a record low, hitting 60.08 in April after 71.53 in March and 87.69 a year ago.

The index for current financial conditions was at its lowest ever in April, at 54.37 from 61.25 in March and 73.51 in the same month a year ago. Companies appear to expect current conditions to continue for some time, with the index for financial conditions in three months also hitting a record low of 59.52 in April from 66.67 in March and 80.97 a year ago.