According to the managers interviewed in March 2013, the business climate remained deteriorated in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles: the composite indicator was still significantly under its long term average.
Business leaders considered that past activty went on declining. The balances remained low in both retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles.
Forecasts are still pessimistic: each of the three balances concerning expected sales, ordering intentions and general business outlook remains very low under its average.
Business climate composite 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) | Dec. 12 | Jan. 13 | Feb. 13 | March 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business climate | 100 | 88 | 87 | 89 | 87 |
| General business outlook | 30 | 47 | 48 | 47 | 49 |
| Recent sales | 6 | 21 | 16 | 26 | 32 |
| Expected sales | 2 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 20 |
| Ordering intentions | 8 | 21 | 24 | 16 | 19 |
| Stocks | 11 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Past selling prices (2) | 6 | 10 | 3 | ||
| Expected selling prices | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Cash position (2) | 15 | 21 | 21 | ||
| Workforce size: recent trend | 0 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Workforce size: future trend | 2 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 |
n° 67 - March 22, 2013
Monthly survey of retailing - March 2013
Next issue June 25, 2013 08:45 - June 2013
Since July 2009, display of the Informations Rapides has changed.