South Korean manufacturers' business sentiment will slightly worsen next month as they expect a decline in domestic demand and exports, central bank data showed Friday.

The business survey index of manufacturing firms came to 72 in November, down from 75 a month earlier, according to the Bank of Korea.

A reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists, while a reading below the benchmark means the opposite.

An index measuring local firms' sentiments toward exports came to 82 for November, down from 85 for October.

A separate index for domestic sales stood at 78 for next month, down from 82 in October.

Local companies also expected their profitability to slightly worsen next month, registering a BIS reading of 88 for November, down from 89 in October, according to the BOK.

The BSI of non-manufacturing firms came to 73 in November, compared to 75 in October.

The monthly index is based on a survey of 2,784 companies throughout the country from Oct. 14 to 21. (Yonhap)