25 November 2014

2014- n° 239

In November 2014, the business climate continues to improve in manufacturing industry Monthly business survey (goods-producing industries) - November 2014

According to the business managers surveyed in November 2014, the business climate in industry has slightly risen compared to the previous month. The composite indicator which measures it increased by 1 point (after 2 points in October) and stands at 1 point below its long-term average.

The turning-point indicator is in the zone indicating an economic uncertainty.

The balance of opinion on past change in production has increased by three points and is closer to its long-term average. The balance of opinion on personal production expectation has stagnated at its October level, above its long-term average.

Global and export order books have slightly improved. However, a majority of industrialists considers both of them as below their long-term average.

The balance on general production expectations, which represents business managers’ opinion on French industry as a whole, is still sluggish, but has increased by 6 points in November.

Finally, the balance on stocks of finished products remains stable and is considered close to its normal level.

In the manufacture of food products and beverages, the balance on past activity has sharply improved and is closer to its long-term average. Stocks of finished products have dropped at a level close to the normal level. Global and export order books have gone up. Both of them are described as almost normal by business managers. The balance on expected activity has decreased but is still at a level above its long-term average.

In the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment, machine equipment, the opinion of industrialists about their past activity is less negative but remains below its long term average. The balance of opinion on stocks of finished products remains stable at a normal level. The global and foreign demand is considered as very deteriorated and remains at a level far below its normal level according to the industrialists of this sector. The balance of opinion on production expectations has improved, although remaining below its long term average.

In the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi trailers, the balance on past activity is clearly above its long term average. The expected production has significantly gone up. The opinion of the industrialists has improved on the global order books whereas it has declined on the export order books. Both of balances are below their long-term averages. The finished-goods inventory level has decreased and is considered below its normal level.

In the manufacture of other transport equipment, the balance of opinion on past activity remains stable and stands at a level below its long-term average. The balance of opinion on stocks of finished products is closed to its normal level. Global and foreign order books have taken, but while the first is described as high, the second is considered as weakly filled. The balance of opinion on expected activity has decreased but remains clearly above its long-term average.

In “other manufacturing”, the business managers’ opinion on their past activity has significantly increased: the balance of opinion has risen above its long term average. This growth is apparent in all sectors except in that of rubber and plastic products. The balance of opinion on production expectations has considerably declined in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, it has gone down in that of chemicals, whereas it has improved in that of basic metal and in that of rubber and plastic products. The level of global and export order books has not changed much and remains at low levels in all sectors. They are below their long term average.

At last, the balance of opinion on finished-goods inventory is nearly stable in “other manufacturing”, the increase in the manufacture of chemicals and in that of rubber and plastic products being counterbalanced by the decrease in that of basic metals. While they are considered close to their normal level in the manufacture of basic metal and chemicals, they are described as low in that of pharmaceutical products and high in that of plastics products.