22 May 2015
2015- n° 123In May 2015, the business climate improves in services Monthly survey of services - May 2015
According to business managers, the business climate in services has improved in May 2015. The business climate composite indicator has increased by two points ; its level (94) is however still below its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator indicates a favorable dynamic.
All services
According to business managers, the business climate in services has improved in May 2015. The business climate composite indicator has increased by two points ; its level (94) is however still below its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator indicates a favorable dynamic.
The balance on the general outlook, which relates the assessment of business leaders over their whole sector, has increased slightly again but remains below its long-term average.
graphiqueGraph1 – Composite indicator
graphiquegraph_retourn – Turning point indicator
- Note: close to 1 (respectively -1), this indicator indicates a favorable short-term economic situation (respectively unfavorable).
The balances of opinion on past and expected activity and on expected demand have gone up but stay below their long-term average.
The balances of opinion on employment have improved markedly; the balance on expected employment stands above its long-term average.
tableauTable_quarter – Economic outlook in the services sector
| Average* | Feb. 15 | March 15 | April 15 | May 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite indicator | 100 | 92 | 93 | 92 | 94 |
| General outlook | –8 | –17 | –16 | –14 | –13 |
| Past activity | 2 | –10 | –13 | –8 | –6 |
| Expected activity | 2 | –7 | –5 | –9 | –7 |
| Expected demand | –1 | –8 | –6 | –6 | –5 |
| Business situation | –3 | –9 | –9 | –8 | –5 |
| Past selling prices | –4 | –12 | –12 | –15 | –12 |
| Expected selling prices | –2 | –9 | –10 | –9 | –7 |
| Past employment | 2 | –2 | –9 | –8 | –2 |
| except temporary work agencies | 1 | –1 | –7 | –6 | –2 |
| Expected employment | 2 | –2 | –4 | –1 | 4 |
| except temporary work agencies | –1 | –5 | –9 | –3 | –1 |
| Investments | |||||
| Past investments | 1 | –4 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| Expected investments | 1 | 0 | –2 | 2 | 4 |
- * Average of the balances of opinion since 1988
- Source: Insee
graphiqueGraph2 – Activity
Road transport
In road freight and mail activities, fewer business leaders than in April indicate that their past activity has declined. The expectations on activity have improved and the corresponding balance has recovered to its long-term average. Nevertheless, the balance on expected employment has gone down significantly and stands below its long-term average.
Accommodation and food service activities
In accommodation and food service activities, the balances of opinion on past and expected activity and on expected demand stay low. However the balances on past and expected employment have improved again.
Information and communication
In information and communication, the balances on past and expected activity and employment are virtually stable and remain below their long-term average. The expectations on demand have deteriorated moderately.
Real estate
In real estate, the balance of opinion on past activity remain low. The anticipations on activity and demand have improved ; the balance on expected activity has regained its long-term level. The balances on past and expected employment are almost stable, below their long-term average.
Professional, scientific and technical activities
In professional, scientific and technical activities, business leaders stay more pessimistic than in average on past activity. Their expectations on activity and demand have improved even if the corresponding balances remain below their long-term average.
Administrative and support service activities
In administrative and support service activities, business leaders’ expectations on activity are much more optimistic than in April. The corresponding balance is close to its long-term average. The balances of opinion on past and expected employment have gone up significantly.
graphiquegraph_bonus_ – Past activity
tableauTable_det – Detailed data
| A21 | Average* | Feb. 15 | March 15 | April 15 | May 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (H) Road transport | |||||
| Past activity | –8 | –10 | –21 | –23 | –7 |
| Expected activity | –10 | –24 | –20 | –16 | –10 |
| Expected demand | –13 | –24 | –24 | –12 | –13 |
| Past employment | –8 | –4 | –9 | –10 | –11 |
| Expected employment | –11 | –14 | –18 | –4 | –13 |
| (I) Accommodation and food service activities | |||||
| Past activity | –7 | –17 | –26 | –14 | –16 |
| Expected activity | –7 | –10 | –14 | –14 | –11 |
| Expected demand | –9 | –1 | –2 | –18 | –14 |
| Past employment | –4 | –9 | –20 | –6 | 4 |
| Expected employment | –5 | –18 | –13 | 6 | 12 |
| (J) Information and communication | |||||
| Past activity | 9 | –14 | –20 | –10 | –11 |
| Expected activity | 10 | –6 | 3 | –11 | –13 |
| Expected demand | 11 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 5 |
| Past employment | 6 | –2 | –3 | –6 | –4 |
| Expected employment | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| (L) Real estate activities | |||||
| Past activity | 7 | 0 | 4 | –2 | –3 |
| Expected activity | 7 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 7 |
| Expected demand | 1 | –4 | –4 | –9 | –5 |
| Past employment | 3 | 3 | –2 | –2 | –2 |
| Expected employment | 2 | 4 | 9 | –7 | –6 |
| (M) Professional, scientific and technical activities | |||||
| Past activity | –1 | –11 | –14 | –5 | –4 |
| Expected activity | –2 | –11 | –11 | –12 | –6 |
| Expected demand | –6 | –20 | –16 | –17 | –8 |
| Past employment | 1 | 2 | –5 | 1 | 2 |
| Expected employment | 0 | 1 | –6 | –7 | –5 |
| (N) Administrative and support service activities | |||||
| Past activity | 5 | –7 | –1 | –2 | –1 |
| Expected activity | 5 | –3 | 2 | –3 | 4 |
| Expected demand | 3 | –10 | –3 | 1 | 1 |
| Past employment | 8 | 0 | –8 | –8 | 2 |
| Expected employment | 6 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
- * Average of the balances of opinion since 1988 (2006 for road transport)
Documentation
Methodology (2016) (pdf,158 Ko)
Pour en savoir plus
Time series : Economic outlook surveys – Services
