Informations rapides
22 May 2014
2014- n° 118
In May 2014, the business climate remains stable in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles Monthly survey of retailing - May 2014

According to the managers surveyed in May 2014, the business climate remains stable in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles. The composite indicator has stayed still below its long-term average level.

Informations rapides
No 118
Paru le :Paru le22/05/2014
Prochaine parution le : 20/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

According to the managers surveyed in May 2014, the business climate remains stable in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles. The composite indicator has stayed still below its long-term average level.

graph_indsynt_enBusiness climate synthetic indicator

Stability in general business outlook

More business leaders than last month have declared a recovery in their past sales, mainly due to the improvement in the motor vehicles sector. However, the overall balance is still under its average. About forecasts, each of the two balances concerning expected sales and ordering intentions is almost stable under its mean level. The general outlook balance is under its average, stable for the fourth month in a row, showing that the managers remain rather pessimistic about the economic situation in the trade sector.

In May, more business leaders have declared a fall in past selling prices, these trend mainly due to the retail trade sector business leaders. As many business leaders than in April forecast a fall in prices.

Graph_ventes_ic_enRecent sales and ordering intentions

tab1_enGlobal data

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Global data (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) Feb 14 Mar. 14 Apr. 14 May 14
Business climate 100 95 97 98 98
General business outlook –30 –36 –36 –36 –36
Recent sales –7 –12 –17 –22 –16
Expected sales –3 –14 –12 –7 –9
Ordering intentions –9 –16 –10 –10 –11
Stocks 11 8 3 4 6
Past selling prices (2) –6 –9 –18
Expected selling prices –3 –10 –12 –16 –16
Cash position (2) –15 –22 –19
Workforce size: recent trend 0 –5 –7 –4 –4
Workforce size: future trend –2 –8 –8 –4 –3
  • (1) Average since 1991 (2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions).
  • (2) Bi-monthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • Source: monthly survey in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles - INSEE

Stability in job losses

According to business managers, job losses pace stabilizes over the last and the next few months. Each of the two balances still stay under its average.

Retail trade

Very low estimated prices

Less non-specialized retailers than in the last survey have declared a fall in their past activity, but the corresponding balance is still very low. Each of the two balances concerning expected sales and ordering intentions remains slightly below its mean level.

More specialized retailers than in April have declared a decrease in their past and expected activities and in their ordering intentions. Each of the three balances is from now under its average.

Overall, stocks are estimed below their normal level.

In both non-specialized and specialized trade, the balances concerning past and expected prices are very low. In non-specialized trade, they have come back to mid-2009 level.

Trade and repair of motor vehicles

graph_ventes_ic_auto_enRecent sales and ordering intentions in motor vehicles

Still optimistic ordering intentions

In trade and repair of motor vehicles, past activity has sped up, the corresponding balance going above its average and coming back to the end of 2011 level. If expected sales have slightly decline, ordering intentions have remained optimistic.

The level of stocks is still considered very low.

The balances concerning prices are rather stable.

The cash flow situation has been estimed a little easier than in March.

tab2_enDetailed data

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Detailed data (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) Feb 14 Mar. 14 Apr. 14 May 14
Retail trade - Global data
Recent sales –5 –10 –19 –25 –21
Expected sales 0 –14 –12 –6 –8
Ordering intentions –7 –14 –11 –10 –11
Stocks 10 8 4 5 7
Past selling prices (2) –8 –14 –24
Expected selling prices –5 –12 –13 –22 –22
Cash position (2) –13 –21 –19
Workforce size: recent trend 1 –2 –5 –1 0
Workforce size: future trend –2 –6 –5 –3 0
Non-specialized retail trade
Recent sales –1 –9 –17 –33 –24
Expected sales 6 –13 –12 –2 1
Ordering intentions 1 –10 –8 –2 –2
Stocks 7 9 3 2 1
Past selling prices (2) –8 –22 –32
Expected selling prices –5 –16 –20 –27 –27
Cash position (2) –7 –14 –12
Specialized retail trade
Recent sales –9 –11 –21 –16 –18
Expected sales –7 –18 –16 –11 –18
Ordering intentions –17 –21 –19 –16 –24
Stocks 14 8 4 9 13
Past selling prices (2) –8 –5 –15
Expected selling prices –4 –7 –6 –16 –17
Cash position (2) –22 –28 –27
Trade and repair of motor cars and motorcycles
Recent sales –11 –17 –12 –14 –4
Expected sales –9 –16 –10 –7 –12
Ordering intentions –14 –20 –4 –2 –4
Stocks 15 6 0 3 5
Past selling prices (2) 1 1 –4
Expected selling prices 4 –9 –7 –3 1
Cash position (2) –26 –26 –21
Workforce size: recent trend –10 –16 –14 –13 –15
Workforce size: future trend –8 –14 –13 –5 –11
  • (1) Average since 1991 (2003 for trade and repair of motor vehicles and 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions).
  • (2) Bi-monthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • Source: monthly survey in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles - INSEE

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