25 August 2016

2016- n° 215

Business managers of the manufacturing industry plan to increase their investment significantly in 2016 Industrial investment survey - July 2016

Surveyed in July 2016, business managers of the manufacturing industry stated that their nominal investment in manufacturing industry had increased by 2% in 2015, revising upwards slightly their previous estimate given in April (+1 point).

For 2016, business managers in the manufacturing industry continue to anticipate a significant increase in their investment (+6%). Investment is set to increase for all main sectors of industry. However, the forecast made in April is revised down slightly by 1 point. This downward revision came from the sector of electrical and electronic equipment and machine equipment and the “other manufacturing industries” sector.

For 2016, investment should resume markedly in the manufacture of food products and beverages (+13% after 0%) and in the sector of electrical and electronic equipment and machine equipment (+10% after +1%). For 2016, investment should also accelerate in the manufacture of transport equipment (+6% after +2%) whereas it is likely to grow at the same pace than in 2015 in the “other manufacturing industries” (+3 %).

For H1 2016, industrials were significantly more numerous to indicate an increase than a decrease in their investment compared to H2 2015. The corresponding balance (+16) is much higher than the previous value calculated in January 2016 (+4) and it has reached its maximum level since H2 2007.

For H2 2016, industrials remain slightly more numerous to expect an increase than a decrease of their investment compared to H1 2016 (+4).