Informations rapides
22 July 2015
2015- n° 181
In July 2015, the economic climate remains deteriorated in the building construction industry Monthly survey of building - July 2015

According to the business managers surveyed in July 2015, the business climate stays deteriorated in the building construction industry. The composite indicator has lost one point and is below (90) its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator has decreased albeit remaining in the favorable zone.

Informations rapides
No 181
Paru le :Paru le22/07/2015
Prochaine parution le : 20/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

According to the business managers surveyed in July 2015, the business climate stays deteriorated in the building construction industry. The composite indicator has lost one point and is below (90) its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator has decreased albeit remaining in the favorable zone.

General business outlook is less grim than in the last quarter

In July 2015, fewer business managers than in the previous month forecast a fall in their activity for the next three months again. On the contrary, more business managers than in June declared a fall in their activity over the past three months. The corresponding balances of opinion remain far below their long-term average. The balance of opinion on general business outlook has continued to pick up strongly compared to past quarters, but it stays below its long-term average.

ActivityActivity tendency in building construction

More business manager are pessimistic about employment

In July 2015, more business managers than in June indicate a fall in their staff size in the recent period and for the next few months. The corresponding balances remain substantially below their long-term average.

WorkforceWorkforce size tendency in building construction

ClimateBusiness climate composite 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* April 15 May 15 June 15 July 15
Composite indicator 100 89 89 91 90
Past activity –4 –19 –17 –17 –26
Expected activity –6 –20 –25 –20 –15
Gen. business outlook –19 –36 –27
Past employment –4 –33 –28 –24 –28
Expected employment –4 –28 –25 –19 –24
Opinion on order books –23 –56 –54 –56 –56
Order books (in month) 5.4 6.6 6.5 6.5 6.5
Production capacity utilisation rate 88.6 83.9 83.9 84.5 85.1
Obstacles to production increase (in %) 32 20 17 22 23
- Because of workforce shortage (in %) 14.7 2.8 2.6 2.7 3.5
Recruiting problems (in %) 58 38 41
Expected prices –14 –35 –34 –32 –33
Cash-flow position –10 –23 –21
Repayment period 29 43 43
  • * 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 remained at a very low level since October 2014. However, the number of months covered by these order books is practically stable (6.5 months), above its long term average (5.4 months).

OrderBooksOrder books

Production capacity is slightly more used

In July 2015, the production capacity utilisation rate has improved slightly to 85.1% (+0.6 point compared to the last month) but stays below its long-term average. At the same time, almost one business manager out of four has reported difficulties to increase its output, against one out of three in average since 1993. Only 41% of construction firms have difficulties in recruiting labor force, against 58% in average.

PcurProduction capacity utilisation rate

Many business managers indicate price falls again

In July, almost as many business managers as in June indicate price falls. The corresponding balance remains substantially below its long-term average. However, according to business managers, the cash-flow position is a little less deteriorated than in the previous quarter and the repayment period is stable.

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