25 September 2013
2013- n° 219The economic climate shows a slight improvement in building industry in September
2013 Monthly survey of building - September 2013
According to the business managers surveyed in September 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 has gone into the favorable zone.
According to the business managers surveyed in September 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 has gone into 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* | June 13 | July 13 | Aug. 13 | Sept. 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite indicator | 100 | 91 | 91 | 92 | 93 |
| Past activity | –2 | –27 | –28 | –18 | –17 |
| Expected activity | –5 | –26 | –25 | –23 | –12 |
| Gen. business outlook | –17 | –47 | |||
| Past employment | –3 | –19 | –21 | –22 | –21 |
| Expected employment | –2 | –19 | –18 | –18 | –14 |
| Opinion on order books | –20 | –48 | –48 | –48 | –44 |
| Order books (in month) | 5,3 | 7,0 | 7,0 | 7,1 | 7,0 |
| Productive capacity utilisation rate | 89,0 | 86,0 | 86,2 | 86,4 | 86,5 |
| Obstacles to production increase (in %) | 33 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 26 |
| - Because of workforce shortage (in %) | 15,7 | 5,0 | 4,9 | 5,0 | 4,8 |
| Recruiting problems (in %) | 60 | 47 | |||
| Expected prices | –13 | –40 | –43 | –33 | –30 |
| Cash-flow position | –9 | –27 | |||
| Repayment period | 28 | 47 |
- * Mean since September 1993.
Activity remains deteriorated
Business managers consider that their activity is still deteriorated in the recent period. However, far fewer business managers than in August indicate a fall in their activity in the next months. The corresponding balance of opinion stays below its long-term average.
graphiqueActivity – Activity tendency in the building industry
Decreasing employment
Employment in the building industry is grim: 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 September, less business managers than in August consider their order books lower than normal. The corresponding balance of opinion stands at a level inferior to its long-term average.
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.
graphiquePcur – Productive capacity utilization rate
Prices not very dynamic
In September, slightly fewer business managers than in August indicate price downturns. The corresponding balance of opinion remains sharply inferior to its long-term average.
Documentation
Methodology (2016) (pdf,170 Ko)
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