Informations rapides
25 March 2015
2015- n° 71
In March 2015, the economic climate remains unfavorable in the building construction industry Monthly survey of building - March 2015

According to the business managers surveyed in March 2015, the business climate remains deteriorated in the building construction industry. The composite indicator is stable, below its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator has gone into the neutral zone.

Informations rapides
No 71
Paru le :Paru le25/03/2015
Prochaine parution le : 20/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

According to the business managers surveyed in March 2015, the business climate remains deteriorated in the building construction industry. The composite indicator is stable, below its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator has gone into the neutral zone.

Business managers' opinion about activity remains deteriorated

In March 2015, business managers stay pessimistic about their activity. As many business managers as in February declare a fall in their activity on the recent period and for the next few months. The two corresponding balances are far below their long-term average.

ActivityActivity tendency in the building industry

Gloomy employment situation

Business managers remain pessimistic about employment: even if slightly fewer business managers than in January indicate a fall in their staff size. The corresponding balances remain substantially below their long-term average.

WorkforceWorkforce size tendency in the building industry

ClimateComposite indicator

TurningPointTurning-point indicator

  • Lecture: close to 1 (respectively -1), it indicates a favorable climate (respectively unfavorable).

Tableau1Building industry economic outlook

Balances of opinion, in %, SA
Building industry economic outlook (Balances of opinion, in %, SA)
Mean* Dec. 14 Jan. 15 Feb. 15 March 15
Composite indicator 100 89 88 89 89
Past activity –4 –21 –21 –30 –30
Expected activity –6 –27 –35 –26 –25
Gen. business outlook –19 –50
Past employment –4 –26 –30 –24 –25
Expected employment –4 –25 –30 –26 –24
Opinion on order books –22 –58 –57 –58 –58
Order books (in month) 5,3 6,3 6,0 6,2 6,4
Productive capacity utilisation rate 88,7 84,2 84,0 83,6 83,9
Obstacles to production increase (in %) 33 21 20 19 21
- Because of workforce shortage (in %) 14,8 3,1 2,8 3,0 3,0
Recruiting problems (in %) 58 38
Expected prices –14 –38 –35 –36 –34
Cash-flow position –10 –27
Repayment period 29 49
  • * Mean since September 1993.
  • Source: French business survey in the building industry - INSEE

Order books are still considered lower than normal

Business managers’ opinion about their order books remains deteriorated. The corresponding balance has fluctuated little around the same low level since October 2014.

OrderBooksOrder books

Productive capacity still largely underused

In March 2015, the productive capacity utilisation rate is virtually stable, after a sharp decline since early 2014. At the same time, one business manager out of five has reported difficulties to increase its output, against one out of three in average since 1993.

PcurProductive capacity utilisation rate

Prices remain very tight

In March, slightly fewer business managers than in February indicate price falls for the next few months. However, the corresponding balance is substantially below its long-term average.

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