25 March 2014
2014- n° 68The economic climate stays almost stable in the building industry in March 2014 Monthly survey of building - March 2014
According to the business managers surveyed in March 2014, the situation stays almost stable in the building industry. The composite indicator has increased by one point but stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator is in the neutral zone.
According to the business managers surveyed in March 2014, the situation stays almost stable in the building industry. The composite indicator has increased by one point but stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator is in the neutral zone.
graphiqueClimate – Composite indicator
graphiqueTurningPoint – Turning-point indicator
- Lecture: close to 1 (respectively -1), it indicates a favorable climate (respectively unfavorable).
tableauTableau1 – Building industry economic outlook
| Mean* | Dec. 13 | Jan. 14 | Feb. 14 | March 14 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite indicator | 100 | 94 | 93 | 93 | 94 |
| Past activity | –3 | –17 | –18 | –16 | –18 |
| Expected activity | –5 | –18 | –15 | –21 | –19 |
| Gen. business outlook | –18 | –33 | |||
| Past employment | –3 | –15 | –19 | –18 | –16 |
| Expected employment | –3 | –17 | –19 | –22 | –17 |
| Opinion on order books | –20 | –49 | –46 | –44 | –41 |
| Order books (in month) | 5,3 | 6,2 | 6,7 | 6,7 | 6,7 |
| Productive capacity utilisation rate | 88,9 | 86,7 | 86,2 | 85,7 | 85,6 |
| Obstacles to production increase (in %) | 33 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 24 |
| - Because of workforce shortage (in %) | 15,4 | 2,9 | 4,1 | 3,6 | 3,4 |
| Recruiting problems (in %) | 59 | 46 | |||
| Expected prices | –13 | –30 | –30 | –30 | –29 |
| Cash-flow position | –9 | –13 | |||
| Repayment period | 28 | 39 |
- * Mean since September 1993.
- Source: French business survey in the building industry - Insee
Activity remains deteriorated
In March 2014, Business managers consider that their activity is still deteriorated in the recent period. Slightly fewer business managers than in February forecast a fall of their activity for the next few month. The balances of opinion corresponding stay significantly below their long-term average.
graphiqueActivity – Activity tendency in the building industry
Decreasing employment
Fewer business managers than in February indicate job losses for the next few months. The balances of opinion corresponding to past employment and expected employment stay substantially below their long-term average.
graphiqueWorkforce – Workforce size tendency in the building industry
Order books are still considered lower than normal
In March, fewer business managers than in February consider their order books lower than normal. However the balance of opinion stays sharply inferior to its long-term average.
Productive capacity underused again
The productive capacity utilization rate has stabilized and stays below its long-term average. At the same time, one business manager out of four declares having difficulties increasing his activity.
graphiquePcur – Productive capacity utilization rate
Prices not very dynamic
In March, almost as business managers as in February indicate price downturns. The corresponding balance of opinion is still well below its long-term average.
graphiqueOpinionOrderBooks – Opinion on order books
Documentation
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