24 November 2015
2015- n° 282In November 2015, the economic climate remains gloomy in the building construction
industry Monthly survey of building - November 2015
According to the business managers surveyed in November 2015, the business climate is virtually stable in the building construction industry. The composite indicator which measures it has increased by one point remains significantly below (91) its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator remains in the neutral area
Warning: the results of this survey take into account answers until 19 November inclusive. The large majority of responses were registered before the attacks of 13 November.
According to the business managers surveyed in November 2015, the business climate is virtually stable in the building construction industry. The composite indicator which measures it has increased by one point remains significantly below (91) its long-term average (100). The turning point indicator remains in the neutral area.
graphiqueClimate – Business climate composite indicator
graphiqueTurningPoint – Turning-point indicator
- Note: close to 1 (respectively –1), it indicates a favourable climate (respectively unfavourable).
tableauTableau1 – Building industry economic outlook
| Mean* | Aug. 15 | Sept. 15 | Oct. 15 | Nov. 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite indicator | 100 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 91 |
| Past activity | –4 | –22 | –24 | –16 | –13 |
| Expected activity | –7 | –11 | –13 | –19 | –18 |
| Gen. business outlook | –19 | –24 | |||
| Past employment | –5 | –26 | –26 | –30 | –29 |
| Expected employment | –4 | –24 | –21 | –24 | –24 |
| Opinion on order books | –23 | –53 | –52 | –53 | –50 |
| Order books (in month) | 5,4 | 6,6 | 6,6 | 6,5 | 6,4 |
| Production capacity utilisation rate | 88,6 | 84,7 | 84,4 | 84,6 | 84,7 |
| Obstacles to production increase (in %) | 32 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 20 |
| - Because of workforce shortage (in %) | 14,5 | 2,9 | 2,6 | 2,7 | 2,7 |
| Recruiting problems (in %) | 58 | 41 | |||
| Expected prices | –15 | –29 | –29 | –32 | –31 |
| Cash-flow position | –10 | –12 | |||
| Repayment period | 29 | 39 |
- * Mean since September 1993.
Business managers consider their activity as a little less deteriorated
In November 2015, slightly less business managers than in the previous month have declared a fall in their activity in the recent period and for the next three months. However, the corresponding balances of opinion are still below their long-term average.
graphiqueActivity – Activity tendency in building construction
Persistent pessimism about employment
In November 2015, almost as many business managers as in October 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
Order books have been considered very low
Order books are considered much lower than normal. The corresponding balance has been very low for more than a year. With their staff size, business managers consider that their order books provide 6.4 months of work, a level virtually stable and above its long term average (5.4 months).
graphiqueOrderBooks – Order books
Production capacity is clearly underused used
Since 2008, the production capacity utilisation rate has been below its long-term average. In November 2015, it is virtually stable (84.7%). 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 November 2015, almost as many business managers as in October have indicated price falls. The corresponding balance remains substantially below its long-term average.
Documentation
Methodology (2016) (pdf,170 Ko)
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