16 December 2016

2016- n° 324

In December 2016, the business climate in manufacturing, already above normal, improves clearly Monthly business survey (goods-producing industries) - December 2016

According to the business managers surveyed in December 2016, the business climate in industry has clearly improved. Already above its long-term average (100) since April 2015, it has increased by 4 points and has reached 106, its highest level since August 2011.

The turning-point indicator is in the zone indicating further favourable economic outlook.

In December 2016, the balance of opinion on past activity, already above normal, has significantly increased and has reached its highest level since July 2011. That on personal production expectations has recovered and is now above its long-term average.

Business managers' opinion on general production prospects for the sector has improved further (+3 points). The corresponding balance has been above its long-term average since February 2015.

In December, the balances on global and export order books have increased, while they have been already above normal since mid-2015. The first one has reached its highest level since July 2011.

Finally, as many industrialists as in November consider that finished-goods inventories are below normal: the corresponding balance is stable below its long-term average.

The business climate in manufacturing in November 2016 has been lowered by one point, at 102 instead of 103. This slight revision results from late answers from businesses that have been taken into account.

The business climate has improved in all manufacturing sub-sectors.

In the manufacture of food products and beverages, the business climate has increased by two points in December. It has reached its highest level since July 2011, significantly above its long-term average. This improvement comes from a further rise in the balances of opinion on global order books and on expected activity, and from the decline of that on finished-goods inventory.

In the manufacture of machinery and equipment goods, the business climate has increased again by two points. Going over its mean, it has reached its highest level since August 2011. This improvement mainly stems from a further rise in the balances on past activity and on export order books.

On a sub-sector level, the composite indicator, already significantly above its mean level, has increased again in the computer, electronic and optical product industry where it has reached its highest level since August 2011. In electrical equipment and in machinery and equipment, the business climates have slightly improved and are close to normal.

In the manufacture of transport equipment, the business climate has increased by two points and has returned to its October's level, significantly above normal. Specifically, the balances on past activity and on global order books have soared.

The business climate has gained three points in the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers and has returned to its October's level. It has slightly increased in that of other transport equipment. Both climates are above their long-term average.

In overall “other manufacturing”, the business climate has gained three points, reaching its highest level since August 2011, above normal. The balance of opinion on past activity has rebounded and those on order books have risen again.

In clothing-textiles, chemicals and in rubber and plastic products, the business climates, already above normal, have improved. In wood-paper, the climate has returned above normal. In basic metals, it is virtually stable, close to its mean level. In the “other manufacturing industries” it is unchanged, slightly below normal.