Informations rapides
23 October 2014
2014- n° 243
In October 2014, the business climate remains almost stable in services Monthly survey of services - October 2014

According to business managers, the economic situation in services is almost stable in October 2014. The business climate composite indicator increases by one point and stands at 93. The turning point indicator indicates a neutral zone.

Informations rapides
No 243
Paru le :Paru le23/10/2014
Prochaine parution le : 20/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

All services

According to business managers, the economic situation in services is almost stable in October 2014. The business climate composite indicator increases by one point and stands at 93. The turning point indicator indicates a neutral zone.

The balance on the general outlook, which relates the assessment of business leaders over their whole sector, remains below its long-term average.

Business managers report that their activity has remained deteriorated over the last few months. Their business expectations for the coming months are less pessimistic than in September, although the corresponding balance remains below its long term average.

The balance of opinion on the past operating balance result has sharply recovered since July and stands above its long term average. However, there are more pessimistic business managers than in July about the expected result.

In services sector except temporary employment agencies, the balances of opinion on past and expected employment are steady and remain below their long-term averages.

Graph1Composite indicator

graph_retournTurning point indicator

  • Note: close to 1 (respectively -1), this indicator indicates a favorable short-term economic situation (respectively unfavorable).

Table_quarterEconomic outlook in the services sector

Balances of opinion, in %, seasonally adjusted
Economic outlook in the services sector (Balances of opinion, in %, seasonally adjusted)
Average* July 14 Aug. 14 Sept. 14 Oct. 14
Composite indicator 100 94 93 92 93
General outlook –8 –16 –18 –17 –20
Past activity 2 –7 –8 –4 –5
Expected activity 2 –3 –3 –9 –6
Expected demand –1 –7 –8 –7 –8
Business situation –3 –13 –10 –12 –9
Past selling prices –3 –8 –9 –10 –9
Expected selling prices –2 –10 –9 –10 –9
Past employment 3 1 1 –1 4
except temporary work agencies 1 –1 –3 0 0
Expected employment 2 –3 –2 0 0
except temporary work agencies –1 –6 –4 –3 –4
Investments
Past investments 1 –1 0 3 –1
Expected investments 1 1 1 –1 –2
Operating balance result
Past result –2 –17 0
Expected result –2 –3 –9
Cash position –11 –15 –15
Difficulties of supply and demand
difficulties of supply and demand 10 12 13
difficulties of supply only 22 20 18
difficulties of demand only 31 40 39
Difficulties in recruitment 28 16 18
  • * Average of the balances of opinion since 1988
  • Source: Insee

Road transport

In road freight and mail activities, business managers’ judgment on past and expected activity has deteriorated. The balance of opinion on expected demand is slighty improving and stands above its long-term average.

Accommodation and food service activities

In accommodation and food service activities, business managers consider that activity has declined over the last few months but the corresponding balance remains above its long term average. They expect a decline in activity for the coming months.

Information and communication

In information and communication, the balances of opinion on past activity, expected activity and expected demand have recovered in the recent months, but they remain significantly below their long term averages.

Real estate activities

In real estate activities, the balance on past activity has decreased. Despite a rise in expected activity, business managers’ expectations on demand remain deteriorated.

Professional, scientific and technical activities

In professional, scientific and technical activities, business managers indicate that their activity has fallen over the last few months. However, their expectations of activity and demand for the coming months are less pessimistic than in September.

Administrative and support service activities

In administrative and support service activities, the balances of opinion on past activity, expected activity and expected demand are still below their long term averages, and drop slightly.

graph_bonus_Past activity

Table_detDetailed data

Balances of opinion, in %, seasonally adjusted
Detailed data (Balances of opinion, in %, seasonally adjusted)
A21 Average* July 14 Aug. 14 Sept. 14 Oct. 14
(H) Road transport
Past activity –8 –10 –2 –10 –16
Expected activity –10 –6 –16 –8 –9
Expected demand –13 –6 –20 –13 –10
Past employment –8 –11 –11 –8 –16
Expected employment –11 –7 –8 –1 –9
(I) Accommodation and food service activities
Past activity –7 –18 0 12 0
Expected activity –7 –6 1 –19 –18
Expected demand –9 –6 –9 –12 –15
Past employment –4 4 –3 13 8
Expected employment –5 –10 –2 –6 –13
(J) Information and communication
Past activity 9 –9 –13 –14 –1
Expected activity 11 –2 –2 –12 –9
Expected demand 11 –2 –4 –11 –6
Past employment 6 –2 –6 –12 –10
Expected employment 11 –13 –7 1 4
(L) Real estate activities
Past activity 7 6 4 1 –2
Expected activity 7 0 2 3 6
Expected demand 1 –3 –2 –5 –5
Past employment 3 2 0 –6 8
Expected employment 2 6 11 10 5
(M) Professional, scientific and technical activities
Past activity –1 –5 –9 –4 –8
Expected activity –2 –6 –10 –14 –7
Expected demand –5 –14 –14 –13 –9
Past employment 1 0 –2 –3 0
Expected employment 0 –1 –7 –5 –2
(N) Administrative and support service activities
Past activity 6 –4 –4 –2 –4
Expected activity 5 3 6 2 –2
Expected demand 3 –2 –3 –2 –5
Past employment 8 6 8 –1 11
Expected employment 6 7 1 3 6
  • * Average of the balances of opinion since 1988 (2006 for road transport)

Pour en savoir plus

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