In Q3 2012, global demand adressed to business leaders remains very deteriorated and the deterioration of export demand increased. For Q4 2012, the global demand outlook improves but remains negatively oriented. The export demand outlook remains unfavourable: : the corresponding balance is steady and is below its long-term average .
Production capacity was used less in Q3 2012 than in Q2 2012: the proportion of businesses encountering production bottlenecks weakened markedly and are below its long-term average.
According to the business leaders, the industrial manpower decreased in Q3 2012 : the corresponding balance weakened and reached its long-term average. The industrial manpower could go down anew in Q4 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* | _201201 | Apr. 12 | Jul. 12 | Oct. 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total demand | |||||
| Recent changes | 0 | –5 | –2 | –25 | –21 |
| Expected change | 1 | –4 | 4 | –16 | –7 |
| Export demand | |||||
| Recent changes | 3 | –3 | 2 | –21 | –25 |
| Expected change | 4 | 2 | –3 | –14 | –15 |
| Production factors | |||||
| Share of firms producing at full capacity (in%) | 22 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 19 |
| Opinion on production capacity | 15 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 26 |
| Productive capacity utilization rate (in %) | 85 | 81 | 81 | 80 | 79 |
| Difficulties of supply and demand | |||||
| Difficulties of supply and demand | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Difficulties of supply | 20 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 15 |
| Difficulties of demand | 43 | 40 | 47 | 46 | 56 |
n° 266 - October 26, 2012
Quarterly business survey (goods-producing industries) - October 2012
Next issue July 23, 2013 08:45 - July 2013
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