22 March 2013
2013- n° 69The economic climate continues to deteriorate in the building industry in March 2013 Monthly survey of building - March 2013
According to the business leaders surveyed in March 2013, the situation continues to deteriorate in the building industry: the synthetic indicator of business climate lost a point and stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator is in the unfavorable zone.
According to the business leaders surveyed in March 2013, the situation continues to deteriorate in the building industry: the synthetic indicator of business climate lost a point and stays below its long-term average. The turning-point indicator is in the unfavorable zone.
Activity remains deteriorated
The business leaders considered that their activity remains deteriorated in the recent period. The business leaders stay pessimistic about their activity in the next months.
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* | Dec. 12 | Jan. 13 | Feb. 13 | March 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business climate | 100 | 95 | 94 | 93 | 92 |
| Past activity | –2 | –18 | –19 | –22 | –25 |
| Expected activity | –5 | –22 | –24 | –22 | –24 |
| Gen. business outlook | –17 | –44 | |||
| Past employment | –2 | –12 | –15 | –18 | –18 |
| Expected employment | –2 | –16 | –14 | –16 | –17 |
| Opinion on order books | –19 | –39 | –41 | –41 | –42 |
| Order books (in month) | 5,2 | 7,0 | 7,0 | 7,1 | 7,1 |
| Productive capacity utilisation rate | 89,0 | 86,2 | 87,3 | 87,3 | 86,6 |
| Obstacles to production increase (in %) | 34 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 19 |
| - Because of workforce shortage(in %) | 16,0 | 4,7 | 5,6 | 4,4 | 4,4 |
| Hiring problems (in %) | 60 | 45 | |||
| Expected prices | –12 | –27 | –30 | –29 | –33 |
| Cash-flow position | –8 | –16 | |||
| Repayment period | 27 | 36 |
- * Mean since september 1993.
Order books are again considered as significantly lower than normal
In March, business leaders were almost as numerous as in February to consider their order books lower than normal. The corresponding balance of opinion is in a level inferior to its long-term average.
The March’s order books could provide 7.1 months of work with full-time staff.
Productive capacity underused again
The productive capacity utilisation rate was slightly declining and stays below its long-term average. At the same time, one business leader in five declared having difficulties to increase their activity.
Prices not very dynamic
In March, business leaders were more numerous as in February to indicate price downturns. However, the corresponding balance of opinion remains inferior to its long-term average.
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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