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Informations Rapides · 19 December 2024 · n° 316
Informations rapidesIn December 2024, the business climate in manufacturing industry is stable Monthly business survey (goods-producing industries) - December 2024

According to business managers surveyed in December 2024, the business climate in manufacturing industry is stable. At 97, the synthetic indicator remains below its long-term average (100). The balances of opinion on order books have increased again but all those relating to production have decreased.

Informations rapides
No 316
Paru le :Paru le19/12/2024
Prochaine parution le : 19/09/2025 at 08:45 - September 2025

According to business managers surveyed in December 2024, the business climate in manufacturing industry is stable. At 97, the synthetic indicator remains below its long-term average (100). The balances of opinion on order books have increased again but all those relating to production have decreased.

Business climate in manufacturing - Composite indicator

Business climate in manufacturing - Composite indicator
Business climate in manufacturing - Composite indicator
2024-12 97.0
2024-11 96.7
2024-10 92.9
2024-09 99.1
2024-08 98.9
2024-07 95.4
2024-06 98.9
2024-05 99.5
2024-04 100.0
2024-03 102.1
2024-02 100.7
2024-01 99.0
2023-12 99.4
2023-11 99.0
2023-10 99.0
2023-09 98.7
2023-08 96.8
2023-07 100.8
2023-06 100.4
2023-05 99.3
2023-04 100.9
2023-03 103.0
2023-02 103.3
2023-01 102.5
2022-12 101.7
2022-11 102.0
2022-10 103.8
2022-09 102.5
2022-08 103.3
2022-07 105.4
2022-06 107.5
2022-05 107.0
2022-04 107.9
2022-03 107.1
2022-02 111.3
2022-01 112.6
2021-12 109.4
2021-11 110.6
2021-10 108.0
2021-09 107.5
2021-08 109.3
2021-07 109.2
2021-06 107.4
2021-05 107.5
2021-04 103.6
2021-03 98.0
2021-02 96.9
2021-01 95.9
2020-12 94.8
2020-11 92.4
2020-10 94.6
2020-09 94.7
2020-08 91.0
2020-07 81.1
2020-06 76.6
2020-05 69.9
2020-04 66.3
2020-03 97.3
2020-02 100.3
2020-01 102.3
2019-12 99.2
2019-11 102.8
2019-10 100.3
2019-09 102.6
2019-08 102.0
2019-07 101.0
2019-06 101.8
2019-05 103.6
2019-04 101.1
2019-03 103.4
2019-02 102.9
2019-01 103.2
2018-12 103.6
2018-11 105.7
2018-10 105.0
2018-09 108.1
2018-08 108.6
2018-07 108.5
2018-06 109.5
2018-05 109.7
2018-04 110.3
2018-03 110.7
2018-02 112.4
2018-01 113.8
2017-12 112.2
2017-11 112.2
2017-10 112.1
2017-09 111.8
2017-08 110.0
2017-07 108.5
2017-06 109.0
2017-05 108.4
2017-04 108.2
2017-03 105.4
2017-02 106.6
2017-01 105.9
2016-12 105.8
2016-11 102.1
2016-10 102.2
2016-09 103.5
2016-08 101.6
2016-07 101.6
2016-06 101.6
2016-05 104.3
2016-04 104.8
2016-03 102.6
2016-02 103.0
2016-01 102.9
2015-12 102.6
2015-11 102.3
2015-10 103.2
2015-09 104.8
2015-08 103.6
2015-07 101.5
2015-06 100.2
2015-05 101.7
2015-04 101.5
2015-03 99.0
2015-02 98.3
2015-01 98.7
2014-12 98.6
2014-11 98.8
2014-10 97.3
2014-09 96.8
2014-08 96.5
2014-07 96.2
2014-06 96.4
2014-05 98.2
2014-04 100.3
2014-03 100.7
2014-02 98.2
2014-01 99.6
2013-12 99.2
2013-11 98.0
2013-10 97.8
2013-09 95.8
2013-08 98.4
2013-07 94.6
2013-06 92.5
2013-05 91.8
2013-04 87.3
2013-03 90.3
2013-02 90.3
2013-01 89.6
2012-12 90.6
2012-11 91.4
2012-10 86.7
2012-09 92.5
2012-08 92.7
2012-07 90.9
2012-06 92.9
2012-05 94.6
2012-04 95.5
2012-03 96.4
2012-02 94.8
2012-01 94.7
2011-12 94.5
2011-11 97.5
2011-10 97.3
2011-09 99.1
2011-08 101.3
2011-07 104.9
2011-06 109.9
2011-05 107.3
2011-04 110.2
2011-03 110.3
2011-02 106.9
2011-01 108.8
2010-12 104.1
2010-11 101.7
2010-10 104.0
2010-09 102.8
2010-08 100.2
2010-07 97.0
2010-06 95.4
2010-05 96.2
2010-04 94.7
2010-03 90.8
2010-02 88.2
2010-01 89.7
2009-12 86.9
2009-11 87.0
2009-10 84.6
2009-09 83.4
2009-08 80.3
2009-07 75.8
2009-06 74.2
2009-05 71.7
2009-04 69.9
2009-03 65.9
2009-02 67.9
2009-01 72.1
2008-12 72.7
2008-11 79.3
2008-10 86.8
2008-09 91.5
2008-08 98.0
2008-07 98.7
2008-06 103.4
2008-05 104.2
2008-04 107.5
2008-03 110.2
2008-02 110.5
2008-01 110.7
2007-12 112.7
2007-11 112.5
2007-10 110.2
2007-09 110.8
2007-08 111.2
2007-07 111.8
2007-06 111.5
2007-05 110.3
2007-04 112.2
2007-03 111.5
2007-02 111.9
2007-01 108.4
2006-12 109.3
2006-11 109.7
2006-10 107.3
2006-09 108.2
2006-08 108.7
2006-07 109.1
2006-06 108.7
2006-05 109.0
2006-04 108.0
2006-03 106.4
2006-02 106.6
2006-01 103.1
2005-12 104.1
2005-11 101.0
2005-10 101.1
2005-09 98.8
2005-08 99.5
2005-07 100.0
2005-06 98.9
2005-05 96.9
2005-04 96.5
2005-03 99.6
2005-02 103.0
2005-01 103.2

Business climate in manufacturing - Composite indicator

  • Source: INSEE.

Industrialists’ opinion on manufacturing industry

Balance of opinion, in %, SA
Industrialists’ opinion on manufacturing industry (Balance of opinion, in %, SA)
Manufacturing industry Ave.* Sep-24 Oct-24 Nov-24 Dec-24
Business climate 100 99 93 97 97
Past production 5 -6 -12 -7 -9
Finished-goods inventory 12 7 17 8 14
Overall order books -18 -18 -25 -21 -18
Foreign order books -14 -9 -22 -19 -8
Past workforce size -8 -3 -4 -2 -2
Expected workforce size -9 1 -1 2 -2
Personal production expectations 6 6 -2 5 -1
General production expectations -7 -11 -12 -14 -19
Expected trend in selling prices 4 2 7 3 2
Economic uncertainty felt** 29 20 25 23 32
  • * Long-term average since 1976 except for the economic uncertainty felt (April 2021).
  • ** Non-seasonally adjusted balance of opinion.
  • Source: INSEE - Monthly business tendency survey in industry.

The balances of opinion on order books have increased again but all those on production have decreased

In December 2024, the balances of opinion associated with the level of order books, both global and foreign, have increased again, mainly due to manufacturing of “other transport equipment”. The balance on global order books has returned to its average and the one associated with foreign order books has gone back sharply above its own.

The balance of opinion on past production has retreated and sits well below its long-term average. The balance of opinion on personal production expectations has retreated more sharply and has moved away from its average. Finally, the balance relating to general production prospects in the industry has decreased for the third consecutive month and has reached its lowest level in nearly ten years excluding the COVID-19 pandemic (October 2014). The balance on economic uncertainty felt by business leaders has strongly rebounded and has returned above its average.

The balance of opinion on the current level of finished-goods inventories has rebounded and has gone back above its long-term average.

The balance of opinion on the past evolution of workforce size is stable, while the one on its expected evolution has sharply retreated. Both remain nonetheless well above their average.

The balance of opinion relating to the expected trend in selling prices over the next three months has slightly decreased and has moved away from its average by a small margin.

The share of companies reporting being limited in their production by workforce shortage has increased anew and has moved away from its average; however, it is still in decline year on year. Besides, the proportion of companies declaring supply-side obstacles only is stable: at 24%, it remains above its long-term average. The share of companies reporting obstacles linked to demand only has decreased anew after having had experienced an upward trend for just over two years: at 24%, it is below its long-period average. The proportion reporting both supply-side and demand obstacles has increased at 14% and is above its average.

Share of companies declaring obstacles limiting their production*

Share of companies, in % of answers, SA
Share of companies declaring obstacles limiting their production* (Share of companies, in % of answers, SA)
Manufacturing industry Ave.** Sep-24 Oct-24 Nov-24 Dec-24
Difficulties of supply and demand 9 11 9 9 14
Sourcing difficulties 11 11 11 11 14
Workforce shortage 9 13 12 10 12
Difficulties of supply only 22 23 25 24 24
Difficulties of demand only 39 28 28 29 24
  • * Quaterly series from January 1991 then monthly series from May 2022
  • ** Long-term average since 1991 on monthly series (over the quarterly collection period, the point collected in the first month of each quarter was carried over identically to the following two months).
  • Source: INSEE – Monthly business survey in industry.

In the manufacturing of transport equipment, the business climate has taken off again, while it has decreased in the manufacturing of machinery and equipment goods and in “other manufacturing”

In December 2024, the business climate indicator in the manufacturing of food products and beverages has continued its almost uninterrupted rise, which started a little over a year ago. At 98, it has moved closer to its long-period average. The balance of opinion on global order books has rebounded.

In the manufacturing of machinery and equipment goods, the synthetic indicator of the business climate has slightly retreated and has deviated from its average. The balance of opinion on global order books has strongly withdrawn, to a very degraded level, while the one on foreign order books has increased again. At the sub-sector level, the business climate indicator has decreased in the manufacturing of computer, electronic and optical products, but it has increased in the manufacturing of machinery and equipment, and in the manufacture of electrical equipment.

In the manufacturing of transport equipment, the synthetic indicator of the business climate has sharply increased again and has moved away from its long-period average. The indicator has risen in the sub-sector of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, mainly because of the evolution of past production. In the manufacturing of “other transport equipment”, the business climate indicator has sharply increased and has gone back to levels close from the highest observed since collecting this series (February 1990); in particular, the balances of opinion on order books have strongly increased.

Finally, the business climate indicator in “other manufacturing” has slightly decreased. At 93, the indicator has reached its lowest level since September 2020. The balances of opinion on production and the one on global order books have diminished. At the sub-sector level, the climate has slightly decreased in “basic metals and fabricated metal products”, “chemicals and chemical products” and in “rubber and plastic products”, while it is stable or almost stable in the three other sub-sectors.

Business climates in a sector-based approach

Business climates in a sector-based approach
(C1) (C3) (C4) (C5)
2024-12 97.8 96.5 109.9 92.8
2024-11 97.0 96.9 101.5 94.2
2024-10 95.9 95.9 95.5 94.3
2024-09 94.8 98.4 110.1 94.0
2024-08 97.3 95.7 110.1 95.1
2024-07 92.0 97.2 100.2 94.2
2024-06 92.2 99.2 109.4 95.2
2024-05 90.3 99.4 108.9 96.7
2024-04 92.1 97.0 111.1 95.3
2024-03 89.6 102.2 112.2 96.0
2024-02 86.8 98.5 111.1 96.4
2024-01 86.8 98.8 112.3 94.3
2023-12 85.9 98.7 111.4 95.2
2023-11 86.0 103.7 110.5 94.4
2023-10 85.0 101.2 111.9 94.8
2023-09 88.0 104.7 103.2 95.8
2023-08 88.0 102.3 102.9 95.1
2023-07 91.6 106.4 111.8 94.6
2023-06 87.1 105.7 105.1 94.8
2023-05 92.4 106.3 103.7 95.0
2023-04 93.9 109.7 103.4 97.3
2023-03 97.2 111.6 103.5 98.4
2023-02 101.7 109.9 104.1 96.5
2023-01 100.7 111.0 103.1 96.7
2022-12 99.6 112.2 102.3 96.0
2022-11 104.8 111.0 103.6 96.0
2022-10 108.9 114.0 104.7 97.0
2022-09 107.3 111.5 99.5 98.7
2022-08 107.5 112.8 99.9 99.7
2022-07 107.3 112.5 105.2 101.7
2022-06 107.4 112.3 101.8 105.8
2022-05 107.1 111.9 101.4 104.9
2022-04 109.2 113.3 101.7 108.4
2022-03 109.7 111.9 99.6 107.7
2022-02 110.9 114.8 103.9 111.7
2022-01 112.2 115.8 104.5 110.9
2021-12 116.5 116.5 91.1 112.4
2021-11 115.9 116.4 97.3 114.0
2021-10 113.6 115.9 90.5 111.8
2021-09 109.7 116.0 89.4 113.2
2021-08 111.2 119.4 92.4 113.1
2021-07 114.3 114.8 91.9 114.8
2021-06 116.5 115.3 89.8 110.8
2021-05 116.1 111.8 89.7 110.4
2021-04 105.8 112.8 88.6 107.1
2021-03 100.2 106.0 83.0 104.0
2021-02 94.6 105.1 88.9 101.5
2021-01 91.7 103.1 87.0 100.7
2020-12 89.3 95.2 88.8 101.8
2020-11 93.3 91.1 90.7 95.1
2020-10 94.5 93.0 91.4 95.8
2020-09 102.6 90.2 92.7 92.8
2020-08 96.5 89.8 90.7 87.7
2020-07 88.4 84.6 79.7 81.1
2020-06 90.9 79.1 76.0 78.4
2020-05 91.5 76.8 74.8 73.6
2020-04 93.5 76.8 72.4 72.4
2020-03 107.9 98.1 94.8 97.1
2020-02 108.1 98.9 99.3 100.2
2020-01 108.3 99.7 105.5 99.4
2019-12 107.7 97.3 100.8 97.8
2019-11 104.8 98.2 107.4 101.2
2019-10 105.9 96.1 101.3 99.9
2019-09 108.3 99.8 102.5 101.9
2019-08 108.6 99.1 101.5 101.8
2019-07 103.0 102.7 99.6 100.3
2019-06 108.7 98.8 100.4 100.8
2019-05 111.0 104.0 102.1 102.1
2019-04 107.3 101.0 100.4 100.5
2019-03 107.7 100.3 102.2 101.5
2019-02 108.4 104.3 99.5 101.2
2019-01 108.1 102.4 102.0 102.2
2018-12 107.9 102.7 103.0 102.3
2018-11 109.0 102.2 105.1 103.1
2018-10 102.8 106.4 104.2 103.8
2018-09 107.7 107.7 105.8 105.4
2018-08 107.8 107.3 106.5 105.8
2018-07 107.3 107.7 106.6 106.5
2018-06 109.5 107.5 109.8 105.7
2018-05 108.1 110.8 108.3 107.6
2018-04 110.3 109.1 111.6 107.4
2018-03 109.2 109.2 111.2 109.5
2018-02 110.1 110.0 111.6 110.2
2018-01 111.2 111.4 112.1 111.3
2017-12 111.2 111.3 111.0 110.7
2017-11 112.0 109.8 110.1 111.6
2017-10 112.1 109.0 109.1 111.5
2017-09 106.8 107.7 110.1 109.2
2017-08 108.9 106.1 108.8 108.3
2017-07 109.1 108.5 109.1 106.9
2017-06 111.7 108.2 104.9 108.6
2017-05 105.7 108.2 105.3 106.8
2017-04 105.6 106.4 103.9 107.6
2017-03 104.4 103.9 104.6 104.8
2017-02 105.4 103.3 105.7 106.4
2017-01 103.7 101.5 106.2 105.7
2016-12 108.7 103.1 104.6 104.9
2016-11 108.0 99.5 102.0 101.5
2016-10 106.8 97.3 105.9 101.2
2016-09 109.2 98.5 105.3 100.5
2016-08 99.5 98.3 104.1 101.4
2016-07 104.7 97.5 105.4 101.7
2016-06 103.3 97.1 106.0 101.5
2016-05 103.4 97.2 105.8 103.9
2016-04 106.1 100.0 109.2 101.3
2016-03 101.7 99.2 105.9 101.2
2016-02 100.3 100.8 109.2 99.9
2016-01 101.7 100.7 108.2 99.5
2015-12 100.1 98.1 108.0 101.7
2015-11 102.6 99.7 107.8 99.5
2015-10 104.4 98.1 108.1 99.8
2015-09 105.6 96.0 109.3 102.6
2015-08 103.3 97.3 108.4 101.5
2015-07 108.6 98.4 104.9 102.8
2015-06 105.2 97.1 105.3 100.9
2015-05 101.9 97.3 104.9 101.6
2015-04 104.8 96.7 107.1 100.6
2015-03 101.0 94.3 105.2 100.1
2015-02 99.6 95.0 100.5 100.2
2015-01 103.3 93.3 101.4 99.8
2014-12 99.3 92.0 99.4 100.2
2014-11 96.2 92.0 99.9 99.8
2014-10 95.6 92.5 97.0 98.5
2014-09 94.4 92.1 100.9 97.2
2014-08 95.8 93.4 97.7 100.6
2014-07 97.3 89.1 98.6 99.1
2014-06 95.7 91.7 97.7 98.5
2014-05 98.2 93.7 97.7 99.5
2014-04 95.9 92.8 102.5 100.2
2014-03 99.8 92.8 100.5 102.4
2014-02 99.3 93.7 98.0 98.3
2014-01 99.5 91.0 101.9 98.6
2013-12 98.3 91.9 99.4 99.1
2013-11 98.2 92.1 102.1 98.7
2013-10 95.5 90.1 103.5 97.7
2013-09 95.0 89.9 97.3 97.1
2013-08 95.5 91.4 101.1 97.1
2013-07 92.5 89.5 98.5 94.9
2013-06 92.7 89.1 94.4 93.2
2013-05 91.6 89.3 94.7 91.7
2013-04 91.7 89.5 92.6 89.1
2013-03 94.0 88.8 93.3 91.2
2013-02 98.0 88.8 94.3 90.1
2013-01 97.6 87.9 92.8 91.2
2012-12 98.8 87.4 92.2 91.8
2012-11 98.2 87.2 92.8 92.2
2012-10 91.0 86.1 95.9 89.3
2012-09 96.8 91.0 97.6 93.6
2012-08 93.8 90.2 95.2 93.5
2012-07 94.6 90.8 95.4 92.2
2012-06 95.1 90.9 95.5 93.6
2012-05 93.4 94.9 95.0 95.8
2012-04 99.2 95.7 94.3 97.7
2012-03 102.7 96.4 103.1 97.1
2012-02 100.6 96.1 93.6 95.9
2012-01 100.0 96.1 94.7 94.0
2011-12 98.6 96.1 99.9 94.5
2011-11 102.2 96.0 102.6 94.1
2011-10 104.5 98.3 100.2 96.4
2011-09 102.0 99.5 98.4 98.1
2011-08 103.6 100.3 101.8 100.4
2011-07 111.6 102.4 103.5 105.0
2011-06 108.6 104.1 109.3 109.0
2011-05 109.9 103.1 105.0 107.8
2011-04 109.1 104.5 105.8 110.1
2011-03 106.7 106.3 106.2 109.8
2011-02 107.3 101.7 98.8 108.5
2011-01 109.1 103.8 104.9 105.3

Business climates in a sector-based approach

  • Legend: (C1): Manufacture of food products and beverages - (C3): Machinery and equipment goods - (C4): Manufacture of transport equipment - (C5): Other manufacturing.
  • Source: INSEE.

Business climates in a sector-based approach

Average = 100 and standard deviation = 10 since 1990
Business climates in a sector-based approach (Average = 100 and standard deviation = 10 since 1990)
NA* : (A17) and [A38 and A64] Weights** (%) Oct-24 Nov-24 Dec-24
(C1) Man. of food products and beverages 20 96 97 98
(C3) Machinery and equipment goods 11 96 97 96
          [CI] Computer, electronic and optical products 4 108 108 105
          [CJ] Electrical equipment 3 95 92 94
          [CK] Machinery and equipment 5 90 92 93
(C4) Man. of transport equipment 19 96 102 110
          [CL1] Motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 9 90 96 97
          [CL2] Other transport equipment 10 101 103 116
(C5) Other manufacturing 45 94 94 93
          [CB] Textiles, clothing industries, leather and footwear industry 2 97 99 99
          [CC] Wood, paper, printing 4 91 94 94
          [CE] Chemicals and chemical products 8 92 89 88
          [CG] Rubber and plastic products 7 88 87 86
          [CH] Basic metals and fabricated metal products 11 93 95 93
          [CM] Other manufacturing industries / Manufacture of other industrial products 10 105 102 103
  • * NA: aggregated classification, based on the French classification of activities NAF rév.2.
  • ** Weights used to aggregate sub-sectors’ balances of opinion.
  • Source: INSEE - Monthly business tendency survey in industry.

Revisions

The business climate in manufacturing industry of November 2024 has not been revised (after rounding).

For further information

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

The composite indicators of business climate presented here are estimated independently of one another. Thus, that of the whole of manufacturing industry cannot be deduced from the sub-sectoral climates. The same balances of opinion are included into their calculations, but they are not assigned the same weightings. Also, the indicators are scaled to have a long-run average of 100 and a standard deviation of 10.

This survey is part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.

Additional information (methodology, links, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab.

Answers to this survey have been gathered between 27 November 2024 and 16 December 2024; most companies answer during the first two weeks of collection.

Next issue: 23 January 2025 at 8:45 am.

Pour en savoir plus

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

The composite indicators of business climate presented here are estimated independently of one another. Thus, that of the whole of manufacturing industry cannot be deduced from the sub-sectoral climates. The same balances of opinion are included into their calculations, but they are not assigned the same weightings. Also, the indicators are scaled to have a long-run average of 100 and a standard deviation of 10.

This survey is part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.

Additional information (methodology, links, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab.

Answers to this survey have been gathered between 27 November 2024 and 16 December 2024; most companies answer during the first two weeks of collection.

Next issue: 23 January 2025 at 8:45 am.

: bureau-de-presse@insee.fr