23 October 2013
2013- n° 245The economic climate shows a slight improvement in building industry in October 2013 Monthly survey of building - October 2013
According to the business managers surveyed in October 2013, the situation has improved slightly in the building industry: the composite indicator has increased by one point but stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator stays in the favorable zone.
According to the business managers surveyed in October 2013, the situation has improved slightly in the building industry: the composite indicator has increased by one point but stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator stays in the favorable zone.
graphiqueClimate – Composite indicator
graphiqueTurningPoint – Turning-point indicator
- Lecture : close to 1 (respectively -1), it indicates a favorable climate (respectively unfavorable).
tableauTableau1 – Building industry economic outlook
| Mean* | July 13 | Aug. 13 | Sept. 13 | Oct. 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite indicator | 100 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 |
| Past activity | –2 | –28 | –18 | –16 | –17 |
| Expected activity | –5 | –25 | –23 | –10 | –18 |
| Gen. business outlook | –17 | –46 | –29 | ||
| Past employment | –3 | –21 | –22 | –21 | –14 |
| Expected employment | –2 | –18 | –18 | –15 | –8 |
| Opinion on order books | –20 | –48 | –48 | –43 | –45 |
| Order books (in month) | 5,3 | 7,0 | 7,1 | 7,0 | 7,0 |
| Productive capacity utilisation rate | 89,0 | 86,2 | 86,4 | 86,5 | 86,3 |
| Obstacles to production increase (in %) | 33 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 26 |
| - Because of workforce shortage (in %) | 15,7 | 4,9 | 5,0 | 4,8 | 5,3 |
| Recruiting problems (in %) | 59 | 46 | 46 | ||
| Expected prices | –13 | –43 | –33 | –31 | –29 |
| Cash-flow position | –9 | –23 | –27 | ||
| Repayment period | 28 | 42 | 43 |
- * Mean since September 1993.
Activity remains deteriorated
Business managers consider that their activity is still deteriorated in the recent period. They stay pessimistic about their activity in the next few months.
The general business outlook, which expresses the business manager’s opinions about the general trend in the sector, is sharply better than the last quarter, but remains below its long term average.
graphiqueActivity – Activity tendency in the building industry
Fewer business managers indicate a fall in their staff size
Fewer business managers than in September indicate a fall in their staff size for the next few months.
The balances of opinion corresponding to past employment and expected employment stay significantly below their long-term average.
graphiqueWorkforce – Workforce size tendency in the building industry
Order books are still considered lower than normal
In October, business managers still consider their order books lower than normal.
graphiqueOrderBooks – Order books
Productive capacity underused again
The productive capacity utilization rate has stabilized and stays below its long-term average. At the same time, almost one business manager out of four declares having difficulties increasing his activity. Approximately, one business leader out of two continues to feel the impact of recruiting problems; this ratio is again under its long-term average.
graphiquePcur – Productive capacity utilization rate
Prices not very dynamic
In October, slightly fewer business managers than in September indicate price downturns. The corresponding balance of opinion remains sharply inferior to its long-term average.
According to business leaders, the cash-flow position of the overall sector may deteriorate and the repayment period is likely to be stable.
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