According to the managers interviewed in December 2012, the business climate is still deteriorated in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles: the synthetic indicator has remained stable at 90, significantly under its long-term average.
Past sales have declined again, the corresponding balance staying still considerably under its average.
Forecasting would remain dull: the balances concerning expected sales, ordering intentions and general business outlook have been rather stable, each of them remaining substantially under its mean level.
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. 12 | Oct. 12 | Nov. 12 | Dec. 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business climate | 100 | 87 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| General business outlook | 30 | 50 | 47 | 49 | 47 |
| Recent sales | 5 | 24 | 23 | 17 | 22 |
| Expected sales | 1 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 12 |
| Ordering intentions | 8 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 19 |
| Stocks | 11 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 13 |
| Past selling prices (2) | 6 | 4 | 8 | ||
| Expected selling prices | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Cash position (2) | 14 | 25 | 26 | ||
| Workforce size: recent trend | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Workforce size: future trend | 2 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
n° 312 - December 21, 2012
Monthly survey of retailing - December 2012
Next issue June 25, 2013 08:45 - June 2013
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