28 October 2016

2016- n° 288

In August 2016, the turnover recovered in business services and in wholesale trade Turnover in the wholesale trade and business services - August 2016

In August 2016, the turnover bounced back sharply in business support activities (+6.6% after −3.2%), in wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+1.6% after −1.2%), in transportation and storage (+3.6% after −0.3%) and in real estate activities (+3.2% after −0.3%). It rose again in information and communication (+1.2% after +1.6%).

In August, the turnover of business support activities recovered vigorously after a significant fall in July (+6.6% after −3.2%). All subsectors bounced back. The turnover picked up dramatically in professional, scientific and technical activities (+8.1% after −4.7%), particularly in activities of head offices and management consultancy activities (+11.9%) and architectural and engineering activities (+9.2%). It recovered also in administrative and support service activities (+4.8% after −1.2%), more markedly in office administrative, office support and other business support activities (+7.5%), in employment activities (+5.7%) and in services to buildings and landscape activities (+8.5%).

The turnover in business support activities increased slightly over the last three months (+0.3% q-o-q) and more significantly over a year (+1.5% y-o-y).

In August 2016, the turnover of wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles recovered (+1.6% after −1.2% in July and −0.4% in June), reaching the same level as in May. It bounced back notably for wholesalers of household goods (+2.9%) and for wholesalers of other machinery, equipment and supplies (+3.0%). It rose also for wholesalers on a fee or contract basis (+2.6%). By contrast, it declined for wholesalers of information and communication equipment (−1.4%).

The turnover of the wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles sector decreased slightly over the last three months (−0.3% q-o-q) and year-on-year (−0.5% y-o-y).

In August, the turnover of transportation and storage rose markedly (+3.6%) after a slight fall in July (−0.3%). The turnover increased in all sectors, particularly in land transport (+5.4%) and warehousing and support activities for transportation (+2.5%).

The turnover of transportation and storage rose slightly over the last three months (+0.3% q-o-q) and was almost unchanged over a year (−0.1% y-o-y).

The turnover of real estate activities expanded sharply in August (+3.2%) after edging down in July (−0.3%). It rose markedly over the last three months (+2.2% q-o-q) and over a year (+5.3% y-o-y).

The turnover in information and communication rose again in August (+1.2% after +1.6% in July). It grew significantly in computer programming, consultancy and related activities (+2.9%), publishing activities (+2.8%) and motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities (+3.1%). By contrast, it fell back considerably in programming and broadcasting activities (−7.5%).

The turnover in information and communication increased over the last three months (+0.7%) and sharply over the year (+5.3%).

The variation in the turnover for July 2016 has been revised upwards by 1.8 points in information and communication, by 1.1 points in real estate activities, by 0.9 points in business support activities and by 0.2 points in the wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles. It was unchanged in transportation and storage. These revisions are sharper than usual. They are due to adjustments related to time lags in VAT returns in July and August and to the updating of the coefficients used for the seasonal and working-day adjustment (SA-WDA).