Insee
Informations Rapides · 24 June 2021 · n° 160
Informations rapidesIn June 2021, the opinion of the business managers in the building industry on their recent activity has improved markedly Monthly survey of building - June 2021

In June 2021, the balance of opinion of the business managers in the building construction industry on their past activity over the past three months has rebounded sharply, while that on expected activity has fallen back somewhat.

Informations rapides
No 160
Paru le :Paru le24/06/2021
Prochaine parution le : 19/09/2025 at 08:45 - September 2025

In June 2021, the balance of opinion of the business managers in the building construction industry on their past activity over the past three months has rebounded sharply, while that on expected activity has fallen back somewhat.

In June 2021, business managers are much more positive than in May about their past activity

In June 2021, more business managers in the building industry than in the previous month have reported an increase in their past activity for the past three months: the corresponding balance has rebounded markedly and has further exceeded its long-term average. Conversely, the balance of opinion of the business managers on their expected activity for the next three months has fallen back moderately, while remaining above its average.

Building industry economic outlook

Balances of opinion, in %, SA
Building industry economic outlook (Balances of opinion, in %, SA)
Mean* Mar. 21 Apr. 21 May 21 June 21
Past activity -3 4 8 4 14
Expected activity -4 8 5 14 10
General business outlook -16 2
Past employment -5 -1 2 -1 -2
Expected employment -3 13 15 17 15
Opinion on order books -22 -6 -4 1 3
Order books (in month) 5,8 8,7 9,0 9,0 8,6
Production capacity utilisation rate (in %) 88,7 91,1 91,1 91,5 91,4
Obstacles to production increase (in %) 33 43 46 44 45
- Because of workforce shortage (in %) 14 19 22 19 22
- Because of supply difficulties (in %) 2 4 5 10 12
Recruiting problems (in %) 59 72
Expected prices -13 -3 4 10 18
Cash-flow position -10 0
Repayment period 30 26
  • *Mean since April 1975 for the composite indicator and since September 1993 for the balances of opinion.
  • Source: INSEE, French business survey in the building industry

Activity tendency in building construction

Activity tendency in building construction
Expected activity Past activity
1998-01 -4.4 -3.8
1998-02 -5.1 0.7
1998-03 0.0 5.6
1998-04 -3.6 2.7
1998-05 0.9 7.8
1998-06 3.8 13.6
1998-07 3.9 16.8
1998-08 5.9 18.3
1998-09 7.4 19.7
1998-10 4.5 13.5
1998-11 -0.4 16.0
1998-12 -9.7 3.1
1999-01 -0.4 18.0
1999-02 3.5 12.1
1999-03 5.3 15.2
1999-04 9.0 19.6
1999-05 22.6 18.4
1999-06 14.6 17.9
1999-07 16.9 23.3
1999-08 17.4 24.2
1999-09 17.6 24.8
1999-10 14.3 29.1
1999-11 17.8 28.0
1999-12 33.1 32.4
2000-01 32.4 34.8
2000-02 23.1 33.6
2000-03 26.9 34.9
2000-04 29.9 44.1
2000-05 26.1 35.1
2000-06 31.5 34.8
2000-07 31.9 40.5
2000-08 32.2 40.4
2000-09 32.4 40.4
2000-10 34.3 40.1
2000-11 29.3 40.1
2000-12 24.9 33.2
2001-01 7.8 34.8
2001-02 9.0 34.7
2001-03 12.1 30.4
2001-04 7.7 17.0
2001-05 2.9 19.3
2001-06 0.5 14.1
2001-07 -2.4 12.0
2001-08 -3.7 7.0
2001-09 -5.3 2.5
2001-10 -5.4 1.8
2001-11 -4.5 -3.1
2001-12 -7.9 -1.7
2002-01 -4.2 -6.4
2002-02 -4.7 -3.1
2002-03 -3.7 -0.7
2002-04 -11.1 -7.5
2002-05 -2.8 -0.2
2002-06 -1.3 -0.4
2002-07 -6.4 -11.3
2002-08 -11.3 -11.0
2002-09 -16.4 -9.6
2002-10 -19.1 -11.5
2002-11 -19.7 -15.5
2002-12 -18.2 -19.5
2003-01 -23.3 -13.3
2003-02 -21.1 -15.2
2003-03 -23.7 -18.4
2003-04 -21.8 -15.5
2003-05 -18.0 -16.9
2003-06 -17.4 -15.7
2003-07 -14.3 -16.1
2003-08 -9.7 -10.4
2003-09 -5.5 -3.6
2003-10 -5.2 -13.3
2003-11 -0.1 -9.6
2003-12 1.8 -5.3
2004-01 15.6 -1.3
2004-02 5.5 1.3
2004-03 8.7 3.1
2004-04 5.9 6.1
2004-05 2.6 6.3
2004-06 2.0 5.9
2004-07 10.9 6.9
2004-08 11.9 6.3
2004-09 12.3 6.9
2004-10 12.0 8.7
2004-11 11.7 13.4
2004-12 11.7 12.2
2005-01 11.6 11.1
2005-02 9.0 11.6
2005-03 13.2 8.3
2005-04 13.6 9.7
2005-05 12.6 9.2
2005-06 16.4 12.7
2005-07 14.8 15.4
2005-08 13.9 14.6
2005-09 12.9 15.3
2005-10 18.4 18.0
2005-11 22.9 19.3
2005-12 19.7 20.2
2006-01 20.2 20.5
2006-02 20.1 13.5
2006-03 16.5 17.5
2006-04 16.2 20.1
2006-05 17.5 21.0
2006-06 14.2 21.4
2006-07 16.7 21.2
2006-08 17.0 20.6
2006-09 18.3 22.6
2006-10 21.1 22.9
2006-11 23.3 20.6
2006-12 20.3 22.1
2007-01 21.4 20.2
2007-02 18.9 19.8
2007-03 18.2 22.5
2007-04 21.0 24.1
2007-05 21.1 22.4
2007-06 21.0 25.0
2007-07 18.9 25.0
2007-08 17.7 20.7
2007-09 18.8 20.6
2007-10 15.9 19.6
2007-11 13.5 21.5
2007-12 16.7 19.2
2008-01 7.7 18.7
2008-02 15.3 18.0
2008-03 17.9 15.6
2008-04 10.0 16.3
2008-05 10.8 9.6
2008-06 -4.3 5.0
2008-07 -6.2 -0.3
2008-08 -5.4 0.3
2008-09 -10.0 -0.9
2008-10 -33.4 -10.6
2008-11 -36.3 -11.4
2008-12 -30.7 -21.0
2009-01 -34.8 -19.6
2009-02 -46.6 -25.8
2009-03 -36.5 -24.3
2009-04 -35.8 -30.0
2009-05 -33.3 -29.2
2009-06 -33.7 -33.1
2009-07 -32.5 -33.3
2009-08 -27.3 -31.2
2009-09 -25.0 -28.3
2009-10 -21.4 -25.0
2009-11 -20.4 -26.2
2009-12 -20.0 -26.5
2010-01 -19.7 -26.6
2010-02 -18.2 -23.7
2010-03 -17.8 -26.1
2010-04 -17.4 -25.4
2010-05 -16.9 -20.7
2010-06 -15.2 -17.6
2010-07 -12.4 -14.0
2010-08 -10.8 -12.6
2010-09 -13.0 -13.1
2010-10 -4.4 -13.1
2010-11 -0.6 -12.9
2010-12 -0.8 -7.9
2011-01 -0.8 -8.4
2011-02 3.3 -3.7
2011-03 3.0 1.7
2011-04 5.3 8.3
2011-05 2.4 6.0
2011-06 4.4 6.2
2011-07 4.3 8.3
2011-08 0.6 1.6
2011-09 -4.4 -0.6
2011-10 -4.9 -2.2
2011-11 -9.8 -4.4
2011-12 -11.5 -4.5
2012-01 -10.5 -1.6
2012-02 -12.3 -3.6
2012-03 -10.5 -5.5
2012-04 -11.9 -8.7
2012-05 -14.7 -13.5
2012-06 -14.0 -13.6
2012-07 -17.2 -15.0
2012-08 -19.3 -15.1
2012-09 -20.3 -15.0
2012-10 -26.0 -18.3
2012-11 -24.5 -21.3
2012-12 -21.9 -20.6
2013-01 -24.3 -21.6
2013-02 -22.0 -23.1
2013-03 -24.3 -23.8
2013-04 -24.6 -28.2
2013-05 -21.3 -26.8
2013-06 -24.0 -26.6
2013-07 -22.6 -22.2
2013-08 -19.7 -16.6
2013-09 -12.3 -13.2
2013-10 -15.6 -13.3
2013-11 -16.5 -13.0
2013-12 -18.6 -20.2
2014-01 -15.6 -20.7
2014-02 -20.6 -17.2
2014-03 -18.6 -17.2
2014-04 -22.4 -17.5
2014-05 -19.5 -19.0
2014-06 -17.6 -18.3
2014-07 -28.1 -18.2
2014-08 -27.3 -25.3
2014-09 -29.9 -29.8
2014-10 -29.9 -31.7
2014-11 -24.9 -25.2
2014-12 -28.0 -23.1
2015-01 -32.8 -23.1
2015-02 -23.7 -30.1
2015-03 -24.4 -27.5
2015-04 -23.9 -20.8
2015-05 -26.4 -21.6
2015-06 -20.4 -20.0
2015-07 -16.4 -22.1
2015-08 -8.6 -18.6
2015-09 -13.2 -16.9
2015-10 -15.2 -14.3
2015-11 -20.9 -15.2
2015-12 -8.1 -11.6
2016-01 -8.3 -14.7
2016-02 -16.1 -15.0
2016-03 -9.3 -14.0
2016-04 -5.0 -13.4
2016-05 -2.0 -8.1
2016-06 -2.5 -8.9
2016-07 -0.3 -9.6
2016-08 -3.2 -7.5
2016-09 0.6 -5.9
2016-10 3.7 0.0
2016-11 1.2 0.8
2016-12 -1.1 -5.6
2017-01 -2.8 5.4
2017-02 -0.4 -1.3
2017-03 2.8 -1.7
2017-04 5.9 -6.6
2017-05 2.0 4.4
2017-06 3.6 10.7
2017-07 11.1 5.4
2017-08 13.4 1.3
2017-09 9.1 9.5
2017-10 8.5 5.8
2017-11 14.0 9.7
2017-12 14.3 13.2
2018-01 13.3 14.2
2018-02 11.2 13.9
2018-03 11.8 13.2
2018-04 13.2 10.6
2018-05 12.9 5.8
2018-06 12.7 4.5
2018-07 6.4 8.8
2018-08 4.2 8.3
2018-09 9.7 3.8
2018-10 10.5 4.6
2018-11 10.3 3.8
2018-12 11.8 6.5
2019-01 15.2 6.4
2019-02 15.6 10.1
2019-03 14.5 11.8
2019-04 11.9 11.4
2019-05 13.1 5.6
2019-06 15.2 9.0
2019-07 9.3 14.1
2019-08 10.3 9.2
2019-09 12.8 14.1
2019-10 17.2 14.0
2019-11 8.5 11.5
2019-12 10.2 8.4
2020-01 10.3 7.9
2020-02 15.9 11.7
2020-03 7.5 18.4
2020-04 -85.5 -21.6
2020-05 -47.0 -79.3
2020-06 4.0 -79.5
2020-07 16.0 -58.1
2020-08 12.1 -21.7
2020-09 4.6 -2.6
2020-10 3.6 9.3
2020-11 -16.9 -0.2
2020-12 -5.3 -2.9
2021-01 1.2 -3.7
2021-02 0.6 -3.2
2021-03 8.4 3.5
2021-04 5.2 7.9
2021-05 14.1 4.1
2021-06 10.2 13.9

Activity tendency in building construction

  • Source: INSEE

The employment prospects remain high

In June 2021, the balance of opinion of the business managers on the change in their workforce size over the next three months has fallen back slightly, while remaining well above its long-term average. At the same time, the balance of opinion on the change in the workforce size over the past three months has decreased again, very slightly, but remains above its average.

Workforce size tendency in building construction

Workforce size tendency in building construction
Expected workforce size Past workforce size
2005-01 9.2 0.7
2005-02 9.5 0.1
2005-03 12.5 5.5
2005-04 15.2 6.9
2005-05 14.2 6.7
2005-06 14.0 8.1
2005-07 16.9 3.9
2005-08 15.2 6.0
2005-09 13.7 7.9
2005-10 15.9 9.7
2005-11 19.6 11.5
2005-12 17.0 12.7
2006-01 18.4 18.9
2006-02 20.2 19.9
2006-03 19.3 13.3
2006-04 18.2 16.0
2006-05 20.5 18.2
2006-06 21.8 17.9
2006-07 20.3 20.4
2006-08 22.2 21.1
2006-09 24.4 21.7
2006-10 26.1 21.6
2006-11 23.8 19.8
2006-12 26.3 18.5
2007-01 27.0 19.2
2007-02 25.3 21.4
2007-03 24.6 20.5
2007-04 22.9 20.6
2007-05 25.5 20.2
2007-06 28.6 23.4
2007-07 25.4 21.6
2007-08 24.6 21.8
2007-09 24.2 22.1
2007-10 23.1 16.6
2007-11 26.7 21.7
2007-12 21.5 21.0
2008-01 19.9 22.6
2008-02 15.9 21.4
2008-03 22.3 23.0
2008-04 23.0 21.1
2008-05 15.5 13.0
2008-06 13.8 13.6
2008-07 11.9 13.4
2008-08 9.5 9.3
2008-09 4.8 5.9
2008-10 -1.4 5.8
2008-11 -8.7 -0.9
2008-12 -12.5 -2.3
2009-01 -16.9 -8.7
2009-02 -17.9 -8.2
2009-03 -22.4 -12.8
2009-04 -20.9 -18.4
2009-05 -20.2 -17.9
2009-06 -20.1 -17.9
2009-07 -20.3 -20.7
2009-08 -19.0 -19.2
2009-09 -17.0 -19.1
2009-10 -15.9 -19.3
2009-11 -15.3 -18.9
2009-12 -14.5 -18.8
2010-01 -12.8 -18.3
2010-02 -15.8 -17.2
2010-03 -13.1 -16.8
2010-04 -14.0 -16.5
2010-05 -14.6 -13.9
2010-06 -15.4 -15.8
2010-07 -13.4 -10.7
2010-08 -11.3 -12.0
2010-09 -7.7 -10.9
2010-10 -7.7 -12.1
2010-11 -3.8 -7.6
2010-12 -1.7 -4.4
2011-01 -1.3 -4.2
2011-02 3.1 -5.1
2011-03 3.6 -3.1
2011-04 4.9 0.3
2011-05 7.3 -0.3
2011-06 6.8 3.2
2011-07 7.7 3.4
2011-08 3.4 3.8
2011-09 -0.8 2.8
2011-10 -6.2 -2.4
2011-11 -7.4 -8.8
2011-12 -5.3 -6.4
2012-01 -3.7 -4.2
2012-02 -3.9 -5.6
2012-03 -9.0 -6.8
2012-04 -9.2 -8.4
2012-05 -12.6 -9.1
2012-06 -11.3 -7.7
2012-07 -15.3 -11.8
2012-08 -14.7 -11.1
2012-09 -16.7 -15.7
2012-10 -14.7 -10.3
2012-11 -14.9 -10.9
2012-12 -16.2 -13.3
2013-01 -15.6 -14.4
2013-02 -15.8 -17.2
2013-03 -18.0 -17.8
2013-04 -13.5 -13.7
2013-05 -19.0 -16.3
2013-06 -18.2 -18.6
2013-07 -17.9 -18.1
2013-08 -16.0 -19.7
2013-09 -14.8 -18.3
2013-10 -10.5 -13.7
2013-11 -16.6 -18.3
2013-12 -17.7 -16.6
2014-01 -19.5 -18.9
2014-02 -21.1 -19.9
2014-03 -18.4 -18.6
2014-04 -19.3 -22.2
2014-05 -19.2 -15.6
2014-06 -23.3 -26.6
2014-07 -22.1 -25.4
2014-08 -26.9 -26.5
2014-09 -28.2 -28.6
2014-10 -26.1 -28.8
2014-11 -22.5 -25.0
2014-12 -24.4 -25.8
2015-01 -29.5 -29.2
2015-02 -24.3 -25.1
2015-03 -25.2 -26.5
2015-04 -27.3 -34.0
2015-05 -27.2 -30.1
2015-06 -19.9 -26.5
2015-07 -24.7 -28.6
2015-08 -23.2 -24.9
2015-09 -22.1 -24.8
2015-10 -23.5 -26.7
2015-11 -21.3 -28.8
2015-12 -23.4 -27.6
2016-01 -20.3 -24.3
2016-02 -20.4 -26.0
2016-03 -20.2 -26.9
2016-04 -17.7 -23.1
2016-05 -15.8 -24.0
2016-06 -16.6 -23.9
2016-07 -17.5 -21.0
2016-08 -13.5 -20.7
2016-09 -10.5 -18.5
2016-10 -8.8 -17.4
2016-11 -11.1 -15.5
2016-12 -8.6 -15.7
2017-01 -7.1 -13.5
2017-02 -7.4 -13.2
2017-03 -6.2 -10.9
2017-04 -4.9 -15.2
2017-05 -0.9 -7.7
2017-06 2.1 -6.6
2017-07 3.7 -2.6
2017-08 1.6 -7.4
2017-09 1.9 -7.0
2017-10 3.5 -5.1
2017-11 1.9 -6.6
2017-12 11.7 6.4
2018-01 9.1 -0.3
2018-02 6.6 -4.4
2018-03 13.4 1.2
2018-04 11.8 3.9
2018-05 10.0 7.4
2018-06 9.8 3.8
2018-07 13.7 4.1
2018-08 14.1 3.8
2018-09 14.7 4.3
2018-10 8.8 5.0
2018-11 14.2 8.3
2018-12 13.8 4.5
2019-01 6.6 3.2
2019-02 18.0 6.3
2019-03 12.8 6.1
2019-04 13.7 4.0
2019-05 13.6 6.8
2019-06 9.0 4.1
2019-07 5.6 3.9
2019-08 9.7 6.2
2019-09 13.0 4.3
2019-10 10.6 5.9
2019-11 16.5 4.0
2019-12 13.2 4.4
2020-01 15.2 8.3
2020-02 19.8 8.7
2020-03 12.2 7.2
2020-04 -17.3 0.4
2020-05 -17.3 -16.7
2020-06 -4.4 -23.8
2020-07 0.1 -17.9
2020-08 0.3 -13.1
2020-09 2.3 -8.4
2020-10 1.6 -7.5
2020-11 5.3 -5.1
2020-12 8.2 -2.8
2021-01 6.5 -1.9
2021-02 9.8 -6.0
2021-03 13.0 -0.6
2021-04 15.4 2.4
2021-05 17.3 -1.5
2021-06 14.6 -2.2

Workforce size tendency in building construction

  • Source : INSEE

The opinion on order books has improved a little again

In June 2021, the business managers in the building industry are more numerous than last month to deem that the level of their order books is higher than normal: the corresponding balance has increased again slightly and stands well above its long-term average. Given their workforce size, the business managers have considered that the orders provide 8.6 months of work, a decreasing duration compared to the previous month but which remains above its long-term average (5.8 months).

Capacity pressures remain important

In June 2021, the production capacity utilisation rate is virtually stable. At 91.4%, it stands at a high level, above its long-term average (88.7%). The production bottlenecks have persisted: 45% of business managers have reported some this month, a proportion well above the long-term average (33%). The share of business managers who consider that they are unable to increase their production due to a lack of staff has rebounded slightly and remains above its average. More and more business managers have reported production bottlenecks due to supply difficulties: their share has grown steadily since January 2021 and has reached 12% this month.

The balance of opinion on the prices has increased again sharply

In June 2021, more business managers than in the previous month have reported that they will increase their prices over the next three months. The balance of opinion on the expected price development for the next three months has increased sharply for the fourth consecutive month and has reached its highest level since February 2008. It stands largely above its long-term average.

For further information

A balance of opinion is calculated as the difference between the percentage of “increase” responses and the percentage of “decrease” responses.

The responses to this survey were collected between 27 May and 21 June 2021.

Additional information (simplified and detailed methodology, nomenclature, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab of the web page of this publication.

Next issue: 22 July 2021 at 8:45 am

Pour en savoir plus

A balance of opinion is calculated as the difference between the percentage of “increase” responses and the percentage of “decrease” responses.

The responses to this survey were collected between 27 May and 21 June 2021.

Additional information (simplified and detailed methodology, nomenclature, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab of the web page of this publication.

Next issue: 22 July 2021 at 8:45 am

: bureau-de-presse@insee.fr