31 August 2018

2018- n° 231

In June 2018, services output was virtually stable Index of services production - June 2018

In June 2018, output in services was virtually stable (+0.1%) after a decrease in May (−1.2%).

Over the last three months (April to June), services production increased by 1.2% compared to the previous three months.

It grew strongly in business support activities (+2.0%), be it in specialised, scientific and technical activities (+2.1%) or in administrative and business service activities (+1.9%). It rose sharply in information and communication (+2.4%) and more slightly in household services (+0.4%). The production was almost unchanged in accommodation and food services activities (+0.1). However, it decreased in transportation and storage (−0.3%) and in real estate activities (−0.6%).

In services, output of the last three months rose sharply over a year (+5.0%), with an increase in all sectors.

It went up strongly in business support (+5.8%), be it in specialised, scientific and technical activities (+5.2%) or in administrative and business service activities (+6.7%). It also grew sharply in information and communication (+7.4%), household services (+6.4%) and accommodation and food service activities (+4.9%). It rose more moderatly in transportation and storage (+1.7%) and real estate activities (+1.3%).

In June 2018, output in business support activities bounced back (+0.6% after −2.0% in May).

It recovered in specialised, scientific and technical activities (+0.8% after −2.0% in May), particularly in activities of head offices and management consultancy (+2.6% after −2.0%) and legal and accounting activities (+0.8% after −1.0%). By contrast, it still decreased in scientific research and development (−2.3% after −1.1%). Output also rebounded in administrative and business support activities (+0.4% after −2.1%), notably in services to building and landscape activities (+1.6% after −3.6%), rental and leasing activities (+0.8% after −2.5%) and security and investigation (+3.4% after −5.5%). By contrast, it went down again in employment activities(−0.9% after −1.4%).

Output in transportation and storage picked up in June (+1.9%) after an important decline in May (−3.0%), notably in land transport (+3.2% after −4.9%). It continued to increase strongly in air transport (+11.5% after +5.2%).

Output in information and communication bounced back slightly in June (+0.3% after −1.6%), due to computer programming (+1.4% after −3.9%) and publishing activities (+4.7% after −1.6%) and despite a withdrawal in motion picture, sound recording, music publishing (−6.7% after +4.6%).

In June, output in accommodation and food services was virtually stable (+0.1% after +0.2%). It grew in food and beverage service activities (−0.6% after a stability) whereas it dwindled in accommodation (−1.8% after +0.8%).

Output in household services was nearly stable in June, after a sharp rise in May (+2.7%). It folded in arts, entertainment and recreation (−0.7% after +4.1%) but expanded again in other personal services production (+1.0% after +0.2%).

The month-on-month variation rate of the index of services production in May 2018 has been revised downwards by 0.5 points. Initially published at −0.7%, it has been stated at −1.2%.