According to the business leaders surveyed in April 2013, the situation stays unfavourable in building industry: the synthetic indicator of business climate wins a point but stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator is in the unfavourable zone.
The business leaders consider that their activity remains deteriorated in the recent period. The business leaders stay pessimistic about their activity in the next months.
The general business outlook, which translate the business leader’s opinions about the general evolution in the sector, are below their long term average.
Employment in the building industry is grim: the balances of opinion corresponding to past employment and expected employment are significantly below their long-term average.
Business climate synthetic indicator

Turning-point indicator

Lecture : close to 1 (respectively -1), it indicates a favorable climate (respectively unfavorable).
| Balances of opinion, in %, SA | |||||
| * Mean since September 1993. | |||||
| Mean* | Jan. 13 | Feb. 13 | March 13 | April 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business climate | 100 | 94 | 93 | 93 | 94 |
| Past activity | –2 | –19 | –22 | –26 | –27 |
| Expected activity | –5 | –24 | –22 | –22 | –22 |
| Gen. business outlook | –17 | –44 | –50 | ||
| Past employment | –2 | –15 | –18 | –16 | –11 |
| Expected employment | –2 | –14 | –16 | –17 | –12 |
| Opinion on order books | –19 | –41 | –41 | –43 | –44 |
| Order books (in month) | 5,2 | 7,0 | 7,1 | 7,1 | 7,2 |
| Productive capacity utilisation rate | 89,0 | 87,3 | 87,3 | 86,6 | 86,1 |
| Obstacles to production increase (in %) | 34 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| - Because of workforce shortage(in %) | 15,9 | 5,6 | 4,4 | 3,9 | 4,3 |
| Recruiting problems (in %) | 60 | 46 | 48 | ||
| Expected prices | –12 | –30 | –29 | –33 | –39 |
| Cash-flow position | –8 | –18 | –25 | ||
| Repayment period | 28 | 38 | 47 | ||
In April, business leaders are almost as numerous as in March to consider their order books lower than normal. The corresponding balance of opinion is in a level inferior to its long-term average.
The April’s order books could provide 7.2 months of work with full-time staff.
The productive capacity utilisation rate is slightly declining and stays below its long-term average. At the same time, one business leader out of five declare having difficulties to increase his activity. A little less than one business leader out of two continue to feel recruiting problems; this ratio is inferior again to its long-term average.
In April, business leaders are more numerous than in March to indicate price downturns. The corresponding balance of opinion remains sharply inferior to its long-term average.
According to business leaders, the cash-flow position of the overall sector would deteriorate and the repayment period would get longer.
Productive capacity utilisation rate

Activity tendency in the building industry

Workforce size tendency in the building industry

Order books

n° 96 - April 23, 2013
Monthly survey of building - April 2013
Next issue June 25, 2013 08:45 - June 2013
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