In Q4 2011, global and export demand adressed to business leaders decreased: the corresponding balances fell and are well below their long-term average. The global and export demand outlook for Q1 2012 is still negative: the corresponding balances are below its long-term average.
Production capacity was less intensely used in Q4 2011: the proportion of businesses encountering production bottlenecks decreases but is still above its long-term average.
According to the business leaders, the industrial manpower slowed down anew in Q4 2011 : the corresponding balance decreased but remains above its long-term average. The industrial manpower could slow down again in Q1 2012.
Recent changes in demand

Workforce in manufacturing industry

Competitive position

| Balance of opinion, s.a, in % | |||||
| * : Long period average. | |||||
| Source : Quarterly business survey - INSEE | |||||
| Manufacturing industry | MOY* | Apr. 11 | Jul. 11 | Oct. 11 | Jan. 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total demand | |||||
| Recent changes | 1 | 28 | 16 | 1 | –12 |
| Expected change | 1 | 8 | 7 | –6 | –8 |
| Export demand | |||||
| Recent changes | 3 | 44 | 16 | –1 | –11 |
| Expected change | 5 | 17 | 14 | –4 | 2 |
| Production factors | |||||
| Share of firms producing at full capacity (in%) | 22 | 25 | 25 | 33 | 26 |
| Opinion on production capacity | 14 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 18 |
| Productive capacity utilization rate (in %) | 85 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 82 |
| Difficulties of supply and demand | |||||
| Difficulties of supply and demand | 7 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
| Difficulties of supply | 20 | 21 | 29 | 26 | 15 |
| Difficulties of demand | 42 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 41 |
n° 29 - January 26, 2012
Quarterly business survey (goods-producing industries) - January 2012
Next issue July 23, 2013 08:45 - July 2013
Since July 2009, display of the Informations Rapides has changed.