23 April 2013
2013- n° 96The economic climate stays unfavourable in building industry in April 2013 Monthly survey of building - April 2013
According to the business leaders surveyed in April 2013, the situation stays unfavourable in building industry: the synthetic indicator of business climate wins a point but stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator is in the unfavourable zone.
According to the business leaders surveyed in April 2013, the situation stays unfavourable in building industry: the synthetic indicator of business climate wins a point but stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator is in the unfavourable zone.
Activity remains deteriorated
The business leaders consider that their activity remains deteriorated in the recent period. The business leaders stay pessimistic about their activity in the next months.
The general business outlook, which translate the business leader’s opinions about the general evolution in the sector, are below their long term average.
Decreasing employment
Employment in the building industry is grim: the balances of opinion corresponding to past employment and expected employment are significantly below their long-term average.
graphiqueClimate – Business climate synthetic indicator
graphiqueTurningPoint – Turning-point indicator
- Lecture : close to 1 (respectively -1), it indicates a favorable climate (respectively unfavorable).
tableauTableau1 – Building industry economic outlook
| Mean* | Jan. 13 | Feb. 13 | March 13 | April 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business climate | 100 | 94 | 93 | 93 | 94 |
| Past activity | –2 | –19 | –22 | –26 | –27 |
| Expected activity | –5 | –24 | –22 | –22 | –22 |
| Gen. business outlook | –17 | –44 | –50 | ||
| Past employment | –2 | –15 | –18 | –16 | –11 |
| Expected employment | –2 | –14 | –16 | –17 | –12 |
| Opinion on order books | –19 | –41 | –41 | –43 | –44 |
| Order books (in month) | 5,2 | 7,0 | 7,1 | 7,1 | 7,2 |
| Productive capacity utilisation rate | 89,0 | 87,3 | 87,3 | 86,6 | 86,1 |
| Obstacles to production increase (in %) | 34 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| - Because of workforce shortage(in %) | 15,9 | 5,6 | 4,4 | 3,9 | 4,3 |
| Recruiting problems (in %) | 60 | 46 | 48 | ||
| Expected prices | –12 | –30 | –29 | –33 | –39 |
| Cash-flow position | –8 | –18 | –25 | ||
| Repayment period | 28 | 38 | 47 |
- * Mean since September 1993.
Order books are again considered as significantly lower than normal
In April, business leaders are almost as numerous as in March to consider their order books lower than normal. The corresponding balance of opinion is in a level inferior to its long-term average.
The April’s order books could provide 7.2 months of work with full-time staff.
Productive capacity underused again
The productive capacity utilisation rate is slightly declining and stays below its long-term average. At the same time, one business leader out of five declare having difficulties to increase his activity. A little less than one business leader out of two continue to feel recruiting problems; this ratio is inferior again to its long-term average.
Prices not very dynamic
In April, business leaders are more numerous than in March to 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 would deteriorate and the repayment period would get longer.
graphiquePcur – Productive capacity utilisation rate
graphiqueActivity – Activity tendency in the building industry
graphiqueWorkforce – Workforce size tendency in the building industry
graphiqueOrderBooks – Order books
Documentation
Methodology (2016) (pdf,170 Ko)
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