24 September 2015
2015- n° 232207 In September 2015, the economic climate remains low in the building construction
industry Monthly survey of building - September 2015
According to the business managers surveyed in September 2015, the business climate is virtually stable in the building construction industry. The composite indicator which measures it has decreased by one point and remains significantly below (90) its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator remains in the favorable zone.
According to the business managers surveyed in September 2015, the business climate is virtually stable in the building construction industry. The composite indicator which measures it has decreased by one point and remains significantly below (90) its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator remains in the favorable zone.
Business managers consider their activity still deteriorated
In September 2015, slightly more business managers than in the previous month have declared a fall in their activity in the recent period and for the next three months. The corresponding balances of opinion are far below their long-term average.
graphiqueActivity – Activity tendency in building construction
Persistent pessimism about employment
In September 2015, almost as many business managers as in August have indicated 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.
graphiqueWorkforce – Workforce size tendency in building construction
graphiqueClimate – Business climate composite indicator
graphiqueTurningPoint – Turning-point indicator
- Lecture: close to 1 (respectively -1), it indicates a favorable climate (respectively unfavorable).
tableauTableau1 – Building industry economic outlook
| Mean* | June 15 | July 15 | Aug. 15 | Sept. 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite indicator | 100 | 91 | 90 | 91 | 90 |
| Past activity | –4 | –17 | –24 | –22 | –24 |
| Expected activity | –7 | –20 | –14 | –11 | –14 |
| Gen. business outlook | –19 | –27 | |||
| Past employment | –5 | –24 | –28 | –26 | –27 |
| Expected employment | –4 | –19 | –22 | –24 | –23 |
| Opinion on order books | –23 | –56 | –55 | –53 | –52 |
| Order books (in month) | 5,4 | 6,5 | 6,5 | 6,6 | 6,5 |
| Production capacity utilisation rate | 88,6 | 84,5 | 85,0 | 84,7 | 84,3 |
| Obstacles to production increase (in %) | 32 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| - Because of workforce shortage (in %) | 14,6 | 2,7 | 3,4 | 2,9 | 2,9 |
| Recruiting problems (in %) | 58 | 41 | |||
| Expected prices | –14 | –32 | –32 | –29 | –30 |
| Cash-flow position | –10 | –21 | |||
| Repayment period | 29 | 43 |
- * Mean since September 1993.
- Source: INSEE, French business survey in the building industry
Order books have been considered very low
Business managers’ opinion about their order books remains deteriorated. The corresponding balance has been very low for almost a year now. However, the number of months covered by these order books is practically stable (6.5 months), above its long term average (5.4 months).
graphiqueOrderBooks – Order books
Production capacity has been even less used
Since 2008, the production capacity utilisation rate has been below its long-term average. In September 2015, it has decreased again (from 84.7% to 84.3%). Almost one business manager out of five has reported difficulties in increasing output, against one out of three in average since 1993.
graphiquePcur – Production capacity utilisation rate
Prices has been reported down
In September 2015, almost as many business managers as in August have indicated price falls. The corresponding balance remains substantially below its long-term average.
Documentation
Methodology (2016) (pdf,170 Ko)
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