According to the business leaders interviewed in December 2011, the situation in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles is still unfavourable: the synthetic indicator remains below its long-term average.
Recent sales stayed depressed, especially in retail trade. Expected sales go on decreasing and ordering intentions remain deteriorated, each of the three balances staying significantly below its average. General business outlook is still dull, sign that the retailers are pessimistic about the economic situation in the trade sector.
Business climate synthetic indicator

Recent sales and ordering intentions

| Balances of opinion, in %, s.a. | |||||
| (1) Average since 1991 (2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions). | |||||
| (2) Bi-monthly question (odd-numberred months). | |||||
| Source : monthly survey in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles - INSEE | |||||
| Ave. (1) | Sept. 11 | Oct. 11 | Nov. 11 | Dιc. 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business climate | 100 | 93 | 95 | 93 | 93 |
| General business outlook | 29 | 41 | 35 | 42 | 42 |
| Recent sales | 4 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 15 |
| Expected sales | 0 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 13 |
| Ordering intentions | 7 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 |
| Stocks | 10 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 20 |
| Past selling prices (2) | 6 | 1 | 6 | ||
| Expected selling prices | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Cash position (2) | 14 | 14 | 18 | ||
| Workforce size: recent trend | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Workforce size: future trend | 2 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
n° 308 - December 16, 2011
Monthly survey of retailing - December 2011
Next issue June 25, 2013 08:45 - June 2013
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