In 2008 there were 1 121 472 enterprises in Portugal, less than 0.5% comparing with 2007. However, the number of persons employed and the turnover generated by the business sector grew. The non-financial business sector represented 97.8% of the total business sector, generating about 87% of the total turnover. Despite  the decreasing number  of non-financial enterprises (-0.3%), the annual change rates observed in the number of persons employed and turnover were positive, although significantly less pronounced comparing with the previous year, which is in line with the slowdown in the national economy in 2008.