Informations rapides
21 July 2016
2016- n° 190
In July 2016, the business climate gets better in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles Monthly survey of retailing - July 2016

According to the managers surveyed in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles, the business climate improves in July 2016. The composite indicator that measures it has gained three points and stands at 105. It has remained above its long term average (100) since May 2016.

Informations rapides
No 190
Paru le :Paru le21/07/2016
Prochaine parution le : 20/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

According to the managers surveyed in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles, the business climate improves in July 2016. The composite indicator that measures it has gained three points and stands at 105. It has remained above its long term average (100) since May 2016.

graph_indsynt_enBusiness climate synthetic indicator

Slightly more optimistic activity forecasts

As many traders as in June have declared a rise in their past activity. The corresponding balance of opinion has remained slightly above its average. Concerning the next few months, the three balances on expected sales, ordering intentions and general business outlook have increased slightly. Each of them stays above its average.

Stocks have been estimated higher; the balance, significantly above its standard level, has reached the level of the end of 2014.

Fewer retailers than on the last interrogations have declared falls in prices, on the last as on the next few months. The corresponding balances are still below their average.

The cash position has been considered difficult by slightly more retailers than in May.

tab1_enTendancy in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Tendancy in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) April 16 May 16 June 16 July 16
Business climate 100 99 104 102 105
General business outlook –30 –22 –17 –21 –18
Recent sales –7 1 4 –5 –5
Expected sales –3 –1 2 –2 2
Ordering intentions –9 –11 –3 –4 –3
Stocks 10 12 10 11 17
Past selling prices (2) –7 –11 –7
Expected selling prices –3 –6 –6 –9 –6
Cash position (2) –15 –15 –17
Workforce size: recent trend 1 –6 –4 –2 –3
Workforce size: future trend –3 –6 –5 –4 –2
  • (1) Average since 1991 (2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions).
  • (2) Bi-monthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • Source: INSEE - monthly survey in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles

Graph_ventes_ic_enRecent sales and ordering intentions

Gradual improvement of expected employment

The balance concerning recent workforce balance is virtually stable below its average. The one concerning expected workforce has increased steadily and has gone slightly above its average. In retail trade, the balance concerning past employment has remained below its mean level, the one about expectations stands at its average. In trade and repair of motor vehicles, they remain significantly above it.

In retail trade, the business climate indicator has slightly progressed

In retail trade, the business climate indicator has progressed slightly (+2 points) and has reached its average (100).

The balance on past sales has declined again: it has been stable in non-specialised trade, but has still decreased in specialised trade. In both cases, it stands below its mean level.

More retailers than in June have anticipated rises in general outlook, the corresponding balance standing significantly above its average. The one on expected sales has increased too and has gone slightly above its mean level. The balance concerning ordering intentions is stable, slightly below its average.

Overall, retailers have estimed the level of stocks higher, above their standard level.

Fewer retailers have declared a fall in their past and expected prices. Their cash postion is still considered slightly more difficult than on average.

In trade and repair of motor vehicles, business climate remains very favourable

In trade and repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles, the business climate indicator is virtually stable, standing at 113 in July. It has been above its mean level (100) since the end of 2014.

The balance concerning past sales has gone up, while those concerning expected sales, ordering intentions and general outlook have been practically unchanged. Each of the four remains significantly above its average.

The level of stocks has been estimated higher, above its standard level from now on.

The balances on past and expected prices have slightly risen. The cash position is considered more difficult.

graph_ventes_ic_auto_enRecent sales and ordering intentions in trade and repair of motor vehicles

graph_climat_ca_cd_enBusiness climate synthetic indicator in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

tab2_enDetailed data

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Detailed data (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) April 16 May 16 June 16 July 16
Retail trade - Global data
Business climate 100 94 99 98 100
Gener. busin. outlook –30 –24 –20 –25 –21
Recent sales –6 –4 1 –12 –14
Expected sales 0 –3 0 –5 1
Ordering intentions –7 –15 –3 –8 –8
Stocks 10 11 7 10 16
Past selling prices (2) –9 –15 –10
Expected selling prices –5 –9 –6 –10 –7
Cash position (2) –13 –15 –16
Workforce size: recent trend 2 –6 –4 –2 –4
Workforce size: future trend –2 –7 –6 –5 –2
Non-specialised retail trade
Recent sales –2 6 14 –6 –6
Expected sales 6 –1 10 5 11
Ordering intentions 1 –12 9 2 2
Stocks 7 13 3 8 16
Past selling prices (2) –9 –23 –13
Expected selling prices –5 –10 –4 –8 –5
Cash position (2) –7 –6 –9
Specialised retail trade
Recent sales –11 –15 –16 –20 –23
Expected sales –8 –8 –8 –15 –10
Ordering intentions –17 –16 –19 –21 –17
Stocks 13 8 13 12 17
Past selling prices (2) –8 –7 –7
Expected selling prices –5 –8 –8 –12 –9
Cash position (2) –23 –25 –24
Trade and repair of motor cars and motorcycles
Business climate 100 112 112 114 113
Gener. busin. outlook –30 –14 –6 –9 –8
Recent sales –9 14 14 14 17
Expected sales –8 7 3 4 3
Ordering intentions –12 2 –3 6 4
Stocks 15 16 18 13 18
Past selling prices (2) 1 1 2
Expected selling prices 4 2 –4 –6 –1
Cash position (2) –25 –15 –18
Workforce size: recent trend –9 –3 –1 3 2
Workforce size: future trend –7 0 0 –1 –2
  • (1) Average since 1991 (2003 for trade and repair of motor vehicles and 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions).
  • (2) Bi-monthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • Source: INSEE - monthly survey in the retail trade and in the trade and repair of motor vehicles

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