22 October 2015

2015- n° 258

In October 2015, the business climate hits its highest level in 7 years in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles Monthly survey of retailing - October 2015

According to the managers surveyed in October 2015, the business climate is increasingly favourable in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles. The composite indicator which measures it has gone up by one point and stands at 110, a level never reached since the beginning of 2008. It is now significantly above its long term average (100).

In retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles, slightly more managers than in September consider that their past activity has progressed, the corresponding balance being substantially above its long term average. The balance concerning expected sales has declined and the ordering intentions one is stable: however, each of them has remained significantly over its average. The general business outlook has improved continuously for one year now; the corresponding balance has gone up by 5 points and stands at the level of the end of 2007.

Stocks have have decreased somewhat, and remain deemed below their standard level.

Fewer business leaders than in September expect falls in prices. The balance is almost back to its average.

Each of both balances concerning recent and future trends on workforce size has barely changed. The first one is slightly below its mean level, the second one stands at its average.

According to non-specialised retail traders, past and expected activity has remained promising: each of the three balances concerning past sales, expected sales and ordering intentions has stabilised at a high level.

In specialised trade, the retailers' optimism is more restrained: each of these three balances has recovered and has risen moderatly above its average.

In the whole retail trade, stocks are estimated roughly stable, still below their standard level.

In non-specialised trade, much fewer retailers than in September anticipate price falls over the next few months. In specialised trade, this balance is stable.

More motor vehicles business leaders than on the previous month have declared a rise in their past sales, the corresponding balance remaining above its long-term average.

Expectations are less optimistic: both balances concerning ordering intentions and expected sales have declined, albeit remaining above their average.

Stocks have been estimated lower, below their standard level for eight months.

Slightly fewer managers than in September expect price falls on the next few months.