Informations rapides
23 June 2015
2015- n° 151
In June 2015, the business climate remains good in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles Monthly survey of retailing - June 2015

According to the managers surveyed in June 2015, the business climate remains good in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles. The corresponding synthetic indicator is stable. It has been over its long-term average since the beginning of the year.

Informations rapides
No 151
Paru le :Paru le23/06/2015
Prochaine parution le : 22/05/2025 at 08:45 - May 2025

According to the managers surveyed in June 2015, the business climate remains good in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles. The corresponding synthetic indicator is stable. It has been over its long-term average since the beginning of the year.

graph_indsynt_enBusiness climate synthetic indicator

Expectations over their average

A few more managers have indicated that their past activity has slowed down, the corresponding balance returning to its average. According to each sector, the situation is different: the balance has still remained very high in motor car trade, but has stayed under its average in retail trade.

Regarding their forecasts, managers are waiting to see: the expected sales balance has declined, those corresponding to ordering intentions and general business outlook have been virtually stable. Nevertheless, each of the three balances has remained over its average.

Stocks have been replenished, but their level is still estimated below average.

Fewer business leaders than in May expect price falls over the next few months.

Graph_ventes_ic_enRecent sales and ordering intentions

tab1_enGlobal data

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Global data (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) March 15 April 15 May 15 June 15
Business climate 100 104 104 106 106
General business outlook –30 –29 –26 –24 –22
Recent sales –7 –6 –3 –5 –8
Expected sales –3 5 0 6 0
Ordering intentions –9 –3 –3 –2 –2
Stocks 10 11 4 3 8
Past selling prices (2) –6 –12 –8
Expected selling prices –3 –8 –5 –8 –4
Cash position (2) –15 –18 –18
Workforce size: recent trend 0 –8 –3 –1 –1
Workforce size: future trend –3 –5 –7 –4 –5
  • (1) Average since 1991 (2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions).
  • (2) Bi-monthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • Source: monthly survey in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles - INSEE

Opinion about employment is near its average

Each of both balances concerning recent and future trends on workforce size is almost unchanged, just below its mean level.

Retail trade

Still sluggish past activity

In non-specialised trade, more retailers than in May have declared a fall in their past sales, while they are fewer in the specialised trade. However, each of both balances is still under its mean level.

In the retail trade as a whole, forecasts have been globally less optimistic than in May: each of the balances concerning expected sales and ordering intentions has slightly fallen back, being now near its average. Nevertheless, in specialised trade, the ordering intentions balance has risen and is now over its mean level.

Fewer non-specialised and specialised retailers expect price falls in the next few months.

Trade and repair of motor vehicles

Still dynamic activity

According to the managers in trade and repair of motor vehicles, past activity has remained good: although the corresponding balance has slightly decreased, it has stayed very high. Their anticipations are still optimistic: both balances concerning expected sales and ordering intentions have moderately changed, but are still at high levels.

graph_ventes_ic_auto_enRecent sales and ordering intentions in motor vehicles

More managers than in May expect rises in prices over the next few months.

Balances concerning recent and future trends in workforce size have remained well over their average.

tab2_enDetailed data

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Detailed data (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) March 15 April 15 May 15 June 15
Retail trade - Global data
Recent sales –6 –8 –11 –14 –17
Expected sales –1 3 –2 6 –2
Ordering intentions –7 –6 –4 –3 –6
Stocks 10 12 0 0 8
Past selling prices (2) –8 –19 –12
Expected selling prices –5 –14 –9 –12 –8
Cash position (2) –13 –18 –18
Workforce size: recent trend 1 –9 –3 –1 0
Workforce size: future trend –2 –6 –9 –5 –6
Non-specialised retail trade
Recent sales –2 5 –1 –5 –18
Expected sales 5 16 7 17 6
Ordering intentions 1 2 11 9 3
Stocks 7 13 –9 –9 4
Past selling prices (2) –8 –25 –10
Expected selling prices –5 –13 –10 –13 –6
Cash position (2) –7 –9 –11
Specialised retail trade
Recent sales –11 –25 –23 –25 –17
Expected sales –8 –15 –13 –8 –11
Ordering intentions –17 –18 –20 –20 –13
Stocks 14 10 12 12 13
Past selling prices (2) –8 –15 –17
Expected selling prices –5 –14 –9 –12 –9
Cash position (2) –22 –28 –26
Trade and repair of motor cars and motorcycles
Recent sales –10 2 18 18 15
Expected sales –9 11 7 5 8
Ordering intentions –13 6 10 8 5
Stocks 15 10 12 10 8
Past selling prices (2) 1 7 4
Expected selling prices 4 6 7 3 5
Cash position (2) –25 –17 –15
Workforce size: recent trend –10 –7 –4 0 –3
Workforce size: future trend –8 –2 –1 0 –1
  • (1) Average since 1991 (2003 for trade and repair of motor vehicles and 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions).
  • (2) Bi-monthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • Source: monthly survey in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles - INSEE

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