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Informations Rapides · 24 August 2023 · n° 210
Informations rapidesIn August 2023, the business climate in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles is virtually stable Monthly survey of retailing - August 2023

In August 2023, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole is virtually stable. At 105, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost one point (after rounding) but remains above its long-term average (100). This virtual stability is the result of differing movements of the balances of opinion, downwards for the general business outlook and upwards for past sales notably.

Informations rapides
No 210
Paru le :Paru le24/08/2023
Prochaine parution le : 19/09/2025 at 08:45 - September 2025
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In August 2023, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole is virtually stable. At 105, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost one point (after rounding) but remains above its long-term average (100). This virtual stability is the result of differing movements of the balances of opinion, downwards for the general business outlook and upwards for past sales notably.

Composite indicator

Composite indicator
Business climate synthetic indicator
2023-08 105.4
2023-07 105.6
2023-06 101.7
2023-05 96.7
2023-04 100.0
2023-03 97.5
2023-02 100.1
2023-01 99.4
2022-12 98.7
2022-11 96.2
2022-10 97.5
2022-09 96.8
2022-08 99.1
2022-07 95.5
2022-06 94.6
2022-05 94.1
2022-04 91.1
2022-03 98.6
2022-02 105.6
2022-01 104.0
2021-12 106.8
2021-11 107.8
2021-10 106.5
2021-09 107.9
2021-08 110.0
2021-07 114.0
2021-06 116.2
2021-05 107.7
2021-04 91.7
2021-03 96.4
2021-02 89.3
2021-01 93.6
2020-12 93.5
2020-11 71.1
2020-10 98.0
2020-09 98.0
2020-08 96.8
2020-07 90.5
2020-06 86.7
2020-05 61.9
2020-04 58.4
2020-03 93.6
2020-02 107.2
2020-01 106.7
2019-12 108.6
2019-11 106.6
2019-10 106.5
2019-09 107.0
2019-08 103.3
2019-07 106.0
2019-06 104.8
2019-05 104.9
2019-04 107.8
2019-03 105.1
2019-02 103.5
2019-01 102.1
2018-12 100.2
2018-11 107.4
2018-10 107.5
2018-09 110.0
2018-08 116.0
2018-07 113.8
2018-06 113.6
2018-05 113.0
2018-04 113.5
2018-03 114.4
2018-02 116.9
2018-01 117.2
2017-12 116.6
2017-11 116.1
2017-10 116.5
2017-09 113.3
2017-08 111.1
2017-07 111.9
2017-06 111.1
2017-05 107.0
2017-04 105.7
2017-03 107.8
2017-02 107.5
2017-01 108.8
2016-12 108.2
2016-11 103.2
2016-10 102.0
2016-09 102.9
2016-08 104.6
2016-07 104.5
2016-06 103.9
2016-05 106.1
2016-04 103.0
2016-03 103.9
2016-02 102.5
2016-01 104.2
2015-12 101.6
2015-11 105.1
2015-10 108.2
2015-09 105.9
2015-08 106.6
2015-07 103.2
2015-06 104.2
2015-05 103.0
2015-04 103.0
2015-03 102.1
2015-02 102.0
2015-01 98.8
2014-12 94.4
2014-11 92.8
2014-10 89.3
2014-09 88.6
2014-08 90.7
2014-07 96.7
2014-06 94.7
2014-05 96.4
2014-04 96.5
2014-03 95.4
2014-02 94.7
2014-01 95.2
2013-12 94.0
2013-11 92.0
2013-10 95.4
2013-09 97.7
2013-08 93.4
2013-07 85.5
2013-06 85.1
2013-05 83.6
2013-04 84.6
2013-03 86.5
2013-02 89.7
2013-01 85.1
2012-12 88.0
2012-11 88.3
2012-10 87.5
2012-09 86.0
2012-08 91.0
2012-07 89.3
2012-06 93.1
2012-05 91.0
2012-04 96.0
2012-03 93.4
2012-02 90.7
2012-01 88.3
2011-12 92.9
2011-11 93.9
2011-10 94.7
2011-09 93.9
2011-08 98.3
2011-07 101.4
2011-06 102.0
2011-05 103.9
2011-04 103.0
2011-03 103.7
2011-02 106.4
2011-01 106.6
2010-12 107.7
2010-11 104.3
2010-10 107.4
2010-09 105.8
2010-08 106.1
2010-07 101.0
2010-06 101.0
2010-05 101.7
2010-04 103.1
2010-03 97.9
2010-02 98.7
2010-01 98.3
2009-12 96.6
2009-11 98.2
2009-10 92.7
2009-09 90.4
2009-08 87.5
2009-07 86.1
2009-06 79.8
2009-05 80.6
2009-04 75.8
2009-03 82.5
2009-02 78.7
2009-01 77.7
2008-12 76.5
2008-11 84.1
2008-10 80.8
2008-09 96.2
2008-08 93.1
2008-07 95.4
2008-06 99.4
2008-05 103.0
2008-04 103.4
2008-03 109.3
2008-02 108.5
2008-01 109.9
2007-12 114.3
2007-11 112.6
2007-10 111.3
2007-09 111.7
2007-08 115.0
2007-07 116.9
2007-06 120.3
2007-05 114.4
2007-04 113.1
2007-03 110.9
2007-02 112.1
2007-01 107.5
2006-12 108.2
2006-11 110.6
2006-10 111.5
2006-09 110.1
2006-08 109.5
2006-07 107.9
2006-06 107.4
2006-05 105.2
2006-04 103.4
2006-03 102.1
2006-02 102.5
2006-01 102.9
2005-12 103.9
2005-11 99.5
2005-10 101.5
2005-09 98.9
2005-08 97.7
2005-07 95.8
2005-06 97.8
2005-05 101.2
2005-04 103.5
2005-03 104.1
2005-02 103.6
2005-01 105.8

Composite indicator

  • Source: INSEE

The balance of opinion related to the general business outlook has retreated while the one on past sales has increased sharply

In August 2023, the balance of opinion on the general business outlook has retreated but remains above its long-term average. The one on the past sales has increased again sharply for its part, and has moved away from its own, while the one on the expected sales has increased more slightly and lies just below its own. The balance associated with ordering intentions has increased again slightly and lies just above its average. Finally, more business managers consider that the evolution of their business situation is difficult to forecast compared to the previous month.

Concerning employment, the balances of opinion associated with the recent and expected changes in the workforce size have retreated and both remain below their long-term average.

The balance associated with the current level of stocks has also retreated and has moved closer to its average.

Tendency in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Tendency in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) May 23 June 23 July 23 Aug. 23
Business climate 100 97 102 106 105
General business outlook -27 -22 -17 -9 -12
Recent sales -7 -6 -9 -2 7
Expected sales -3 -8 -7 -7 -4
Ordering intentions -8 -16 -9 -8 -7
Stocks 10 8 17 18 15
Past selling prices (2) -3 37 - 22 -
Expected selling prices -1 27 19 14 13
Cash position (2) -15 -19 - -19 -
Past workforce size 0 -11 -10 -5 -7
Expected workforce size -4 -12 -8 -5 -7
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 38 40 36 34 37
  • (1) Average since 1991 (except 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions, and April 2021 for uncertainty felt).
  • (2) Bimonthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • (3) Non-seasonally adjusted balance.
  • Source: INSEE - monthly survey in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Recent sales and ordering intentions

Recent sales and ordering intentions
Ordering intentions Recent sales
2023-08 -7.5 6.8
2023-07 -8.5 -1.9
2023-06 -8.8 -9.1
2023-05 -16.0 -5.8
2023-04 -11.3 -1.6
2023-03 -14.9 -5.7
2023-02 -10.4 -1.2
2023-01 -11.8 6.0
2022-12 -10.4 -1.4
2022-11 -15.4 2.1
2022-10 -8.7 -2.8
2022-09 -13.9 -4.9
2022-08 -7.4 -12.3
2022-07 -10.7 -20.4
2022-06 -12.6 -16.1
2022-05 -14.4 -12.9
2022-04 -18.7 -18.6
2022-03 -5.0 -12.4
2022-02 -3.1 -7.0
2022-01 -3.3 -4.7
2021-12 -1.6 -6.2
2021-11 -0.5 -11.0
2021-10 -3.8 -17.6
2021-09 -2.0 -11.2
2021-08 3.9 11.0
2021-07 2.6 0.3
2021-06 1.0 -2.0
2021-05 -7.2 -10.9
2021-04 -16.0 -7.4
2021-03 -8.5 -16.4
2021-02 -15.5 -14.1
2021-01 -13.4 -5.4
2020-12 -11.4 -21.8
2020-11 -37.0 7.4
2020-10 0.4 -2.1
2020-09 -6.3 6.2
2020-08 -3.9 -9.9
2020-07 -9.6 -42.0
2020-06 -13.8 -48.2
2020-05 -47.3 -56.4
2020-04 -56.4 -4.3
2020-03 -12.5 -4.4
2020-02 -0.6 1.6
2020-01 -2.8 11.1
2019-12 1.3 -1.5
2019-11 -1.0 -5.8
2019-10 -2.5 -6.3
2019-09 -3.7 0.5
2019-08 -7.8 -5.0
2019-07 -5.0 -3.7
2019-06 -7.6 -9.0
2019-05 -6.3 -10.9
2019-04 0.3 -12.9
2019-03 -2.4 -17.9
2019-02 -6.2 -10.0
2019-01 -6.4 -9.1
2018-12 -5.6 -9.1
2018-11 -0.6 -6.8
2018-10 -2.2 -8.1
2018-09 0.6 2.0
2018-08 13.4 0.3
2018-07 3.7 -2.1
2018-06 5.2 -8.7
2018-05 2.6 -6.9
2018-04 2.1 -9.7
2018-03 2.3 -8.2
2018-02 4.2 5.1
2018-01 6.3 1.9
2017-12 5.9 1.5
2017-11 7.7 -5.1
2017-10 9.3 -0.4
2017-09 2.3 -1.6
2017-08 -0.8 -1.0
2017-07 -1.4 5.5
2017-06 -1.0 -5.9
2017-05 -3.2 -5.5
2017-04 -3.5 -11.9
2017-03 0.2 -1.8
2017-02 -0.4 4.2
2017-01 1.5 1.0
2016-12 -0.1 -1.2
2016-11 -9.2 -6.3
2016-10 -8.2 -10.7
2016-09 -6.1 -10.5
2016-08 -3.9 -4.1
2016-07 -5.1 -5.1
2016-06 -3.7 -4.0
2016-05 -3.8 4.8
2016-04 -8.7 1.5
2016-03 -3.5 -5.2
2016-02 -6.8 -9.2
2016-01 -6.1 -4.9
2015-12 -5.2 -15.3
2015-11 -3.5 3.0
2015-10 0.3 4.4
2015-09 -2.6 1.6
2015-08 -1.5 8.0
2015-07 -6.3 -0.6
2015-06 -1.3 -8.3
2015-05 -3.0 -4.4
2015-04 -2.2 -2.6
2015-03 -3.3 -5.4
2015-02 -1.9 -4.3
2015-01 -4.9 -8.6
2014-12 -12.7 -10.2
2014-11 -13.6 -14.7
2014-10 -16.8 -23.7
2014-09 -18.4 -30.6
2014-08 -17.3 -19.8
2014-07 -10.3 -5.9
2014-06 -13.8 -11.9
2014-05 -11.3 -14.8
2014-04 -9.6 -21.3
2014-03 -11.1 -16.9
2014-02 -13.3 -13.1
2014-01 -12.7 -10.7
2013-12 -15.2 -10.6
2013-11 -13.5 -12.9
2013-10 -13.4 -11.5
2013-09 -7.5 -12.8
2013-08 -13.4 -18.3
2013-07 -23.1 -26.0
2013-06 -19.4 -24.4
2013-05 -21.7 -29.8
2013-04 -19.6 -31.8
2013-03 -17.1 -25.9
2013-02 -14.0 -27.2
2013-01 -25.5 -17.3
2012-12 -17.7 -21.2
2012-11 -18.5 -16.4
2012-10 -19.3 -23.0
2012-09 -21.7 -23.8
2012-08 -15.1 -8.3
2012-07 -15.4 -19.5
2012-06 -12.9 -18.3
2012-05 -16.8 -14.8
2012-04 -13.7 -8.1
2012-03 -16.0 -12.3
2012-02 -15.4 -15.4
2012-01 -19.9 -20.3
2011-12 -13.9 -17.5
2011-11 -12.6 -13.0
2011-10 -13.5 -15.7
2011-09 -13.1 -17.4
2011-08 -11.3 -6.5
2011-07 -11.6 -9.4
2011-06 -11.4 0.1
2011-05 -7.9 3.6
2011-04 -7.2 1.7
2011-03 -5.8 -6.4
2011-02 -2.4 1.6
2011-01 -1.8 4.3
2010-12 -1.3 4.1
2010-11 -4.9 -8.0
2010-10 1.3 -3.9
2010-09 -2.3 -1.8
2010-08 -1.6 4.0
2010-07 -7.9 -5.3
2010-06 -4.7 -1.0
2010-05 -7.0 2.1
2010-04 -4.5 -2.7
2010-03 -10.0 -20.1
2010-02 -9.9 -13.0
2010-01 -13.4 -4.7

Recent sales and ordering intentions

  • Source: INSEE

The balance of opinion on expected prices has declined for the fifth month in a row

In August 2023, the balance of opinion on the expected selling prices has decreased again, more slightly than in the previous months, after having reached in March 2023 its highest level since the beginning of the series (1991). It remains nonetheless well above its long-term average.

Expected prices in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Expected prices in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles
Expected prices
2023-08 12.9
2023-07 14.4
2023-06 18.8
2023-05 26.8
2023-04 37.0
2023-03 46.7
2023-02 45.3
2023-01 41.2
2022-12 37.3
2022-11 38.2
2022-10 44.5
2022-09 40.9
2022-08 42.2
2022-07 40.3
2022-06 41.0
2022-05 41.3
2022-04 36.1
2022-03 37.5
2022-02 35.8
2022-01 26.1
2021-12 24.9
2021-11 26.2
2021-10 23.5
2021-09 15.1
2021-08 14.4
2021-07 13.4
2021-06 10.1
2021-05 3.7
2021-04 0.5
2021-03 1.7
2021-02 -0.2
2021-01 0.3
2020-12 -3.9
2020-11 -4.0
2020-10 2.9
2020-09 1.0
2020-08 -0.1
2020-07 -2.7
2020-06 -3.6
2020-05 -8.2
2020-04 -8.1
2020-03 -1.5
2020-02 2.1
2020-01 -0.2
2019-12 3.0
2019-11 1.5
2019-10 3.9
2019-09 1.8
2019-08 -1.0
2019-07 -1.2
2019-06 -3.3
2019-05 -0.5
2019-04 2.3
2019-03 0.9
2019-02 0.3
2019-01 -2.9
2018-12 4.1
2018-11 -1.3
2018-10 -0.6
2018-09 0.3
2018-08 -1.6
2018-07 0.7
2018-06 -3.3
2018-05 -2.0
2018-04 -3.0
2018-03 -3.4
2018-02 0.9
2018-01 -3.5
2017-12 -1.6
2017-11 1.4
2017-10 3.6
2017-09 -2.0
2017-08 -0.4
2017-07 -2.5
2017-06 -2.1
2017-05 -7.4
2017-04 -4.2
2017-03 -1.1
2017-02 -4.1
2017-01 0.2
2016-12 -0.7
2016-11 -1.2
2016-10 -7.3
2016-09 -6.5
2016-08 -4.2
2016-07 -4.5
2016-06 -7.6
2016-05 -4.7
2016-04 -6.4
2016-03 -5.1
2016-02 -6.6
2016-01 -8.3
2015-12 -7.5
2015-11 -2.8
2015-10 -3.0
2015-09 -7.2
2015-08 -7.8
2015-07 -5.6
2015-06 -3.1
2015-05 -7.4
2015-04 -5.3
2015-03 -9.3
2015-02 -10.0
2015-01 -11.7
2014-12 -11.4
2014-11 -11.8
2014-10 -13.8
2014-09 -14.0
2014-08 -12.2
2014-07 -9.7
2014-06 -13.9
2014-05 -14.2
2014-04 -16.4
2014-03 -12.7
2014-02 -10.3
2014-01 -2.4
2013-12 -1.0
2013-11 -3.6
2013-10 -2.9
2013-09 -0.5
2013-08 -3.5
2013-07 -1.6
2013-06 -6.9
2013-05 -0.7
2013-04 -13.8
2013-03 -1.6
2013-02 -8.2
2013-01 -6.3
2012-12 -1.6
2012-11 -5.0
2012-10 -4.8
2012-09 -0.9
2012-08 -3.6
2012-07 -1.8
2012-06 -2.0
2012-05 -1.6
2012-04 -1.2
2012-03 3.7
2012-02 3.7
2012-01 5.1
2011-12 7.1
2011-11 4.8
2011-10 3.3
2011-09 3.3
2011-08 5.2
2011-07 4.8
2011-06 5.2
2011-05 9.7
2011-04 9.0
2011-03 7.6
2011-02 5.8
2011-01 2.5
2010-12 -1.4
2010-11 -0.2
2010-10 0.8
2010-09 -1.7
2010-08 -5.0
2010-07 -3.6
2010-06 -0.8
2010-05 -3.4
2010-04 -4.2
2010-03 -4.3
2010-02 -5.0
2010-01 -5.7
2009-12 -5.7
2009-11 -9.3
2009-10 -8.0
2009-09 -4.9
2009-08 -11.4
2009-07 -5.7
2009-06 -16.4
2009-05 -17.4
2009-04 -18.3
2009-03 -30.6
2009-02 -17.4
2009-01 -17.8
2008-12 -20.4
2008-11 -26.8
2008-10 -6.3
2008-09 -15.4
2008-08 4.6
2008-07 6.0
2008-06 3.8
2008-05 1.9
2008-04 1.5
2008-03 8.1
2008-02 1.5
2008-01 5.4
2007-12 3.1
2007-11 14.5
2007-10 0.0
2007-09 7.8
2007-08 0.7
2007-07 -6.0
2007-06 -5.0
2007-05 -1.7
2007-04 -8.9
2007-03 -5.8
2007-02 -1.7
2007-01 -6.2

Expected prices in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

  • Source: INSEE

Business managers are less optimistic in the trade and repair of motor vehicles sector than in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles)

The balance of opinion on the general business outlook has retreated sharply in trade and repair of motor vehicles, and slightly in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles). The balances associated with ordering intentions and the expected change in the workforce size have retreated strongly in trade and repair of motor vehicles, while they have rebounded sharply in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles).

The balance on the expected selling prices has decreased again in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) but it is stable in trade and repair of motor vehicles. Both balances remain above their respective average.

Balances of opinion by sub-sector in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Balances of opinion by sub-sector in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) May 23 June 23 July 23 Aug. 23
Retail trade
General business outlook -28 -21 -15 -9 -10
Recent sales -7 -4 -5 5 14
Expected sales -2 -6 -2 -4 -1
Ordering intentions -7 -17 -4 -10 -4
Stocks 9 11 21 20 14
Past selling prices (2) -5 42 - 24 -
Expected selling prices -2 32 19 15 12
Cash position (2) -14 -20 - -21 -
Past workforce size 0 -13 -11 -4 -6
Expected workforce size -4 -13 -10 -11 -9
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 36 38 33 32 34
Trade and repair of motor vehicles
General business outlook -25 -19 -20 -10 -18
Recent sales -8 -10 -18 -17 -9
Expected sales -7 -12 -18 -12 -11
Ordering intentions -9 -14 -20 -5 -15
Stocks 11 0 10 15 17
Past selling prices (2) 5 26 - 18 -
Expected selling prices 7 15 19 14 14
Cash position (2) -21 -17 - -13 -
Past workforce size -7 -3 -3 -9 -3
Expected workforce size -5 -8 -4 12 0
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 43 45 42 40 42
  • (1) Average since 1991 for retail trade and 2003 for trade and repair of motor vehicles (except 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions, and April 2021 for uncertainty felt).
  • (2) Bimonthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • (3) Non-seasonally adjusted balance.
  • Source: INSEE - monthly survey in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Revisions

The business climate for July 2023 in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles has not been revised (after rounding).

For more information

The whole sector “retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles” is composed for 70% of retail trade and for 30% of trade and repair of motor vehicles.

For the three-modality questions, a balance of opinion is the difference between weighted percentage of “increase” or “above normal” answers and weighted percentage of “decrease” or “below normal” answers.

Company responses were collected between 26 July and 21 August 2023.

Next issue: 21 September 2023 at 8:45 am.

Documentation

Changes to business tendency surveys related to European harmonisation – October 2021 (pdf,181 Ko)

Abbreviated methodology (pdf,137 Ko)

Retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles (Monthly survey in the)

Pour en savoir plus

: bureau-de-presse@insee.fr

Publication calendar

Time series : Retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles

Ouvrir dans un nouvel ongletThe Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys (BCS)