Bridgestone Corporation reports that 2009 presented the company with a “challenging” operating environment due to weakened consumer spending and declines in private sector capital investment which counteracted signs of recovery among some exports. However, the Japanese manufacturer states that although the economic recession in Europe and the US continued, some sectors showed signs of stabilisation. A recovery in business climate was observed in China and despite challenging conditions, the business climate in other regions began to show slight signs of recovery. Against such a backdrop, the tyre major achieved net sales of 2,597.0 billion yen (₤18.3 billion), a 20 per cent decrease on the 2008 fiscal year. Operating income, at 75.7 billion yen (₤532.2 million) was 42 per cent down on the previous year and net income, at 1.0 billion yen (₤7.0 million), dropped 90 per cent from 2008. Additionally, during the year Bridgestone recognised as an extraordinary loss 10.6 billion yen (₤74.5 million) in costs linked to its plant closures in Oceania.