Informations rapides
25 January 2017
2017- n° 19
In January 2017, the business climate declines sharply in services Monthly survey of services - January 2017

According to business managers surveyed in January 2017, the business climate in services has declined sharply after a strong rise in the previous month. The composite indicator which measures it has decreased by four points and has returned to its level of November 2016 (102), however above its long-term average (100).

Informations rapides
No 19
Paru le :Paru le25/01/2017
Prochaine parution le : 20/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

According to business managers surveyed in January 2017, the business climate in services has declined sharply after a strong rise in the previous month. The composite indicator which measures it has decreased by four points and has returned to its level of November 2016 (102), however above its long-term average (100).

Graph1Business climate composite indicator

The turning point indicator has returned to the uncertainty area.

Graph2Turning point indicator

  • Note: close to 1 (respectively -1), this indicator indicates a favourable short-term economic situation (respectively unfavourable). Between +0.3 and -0.3: uncertainty area.

The expectations on activity and demand have declined

The balance of opinion on past activity has dipped slightly, still just above its long-term mean. Much fewer business leaders than in December expect an increase in activity and demand for the coming months. The

balance on expected activity has even slipped somewhat below its long-term average. However, the balance of opinion on the general outlook is still well above its long term average.

The balance of opinion on the past operating balance has improved markedly since October and has climbed above its long-term average. In contrast, the balance on expected operating result has deteriorated and has moved below its long-term average.

The balance on past employment has gone up, whereas that on expected employment is virtually stable. Both balances stand clearly above their long-term average.

Table1Economic outlook in the services sector

Balances of opinion, in %, seasonally adjusted
Economic outlook in the services sector (Balances of opinion, in %, seasonally adjusted) -
Average* Oct. 16 Nov. 16 Dec. 16 Jan. 17
Composite indicator 100 101 102 106 102
General outlook –8 –5 –6 –1 –3
Past activity 2 –2 0 5 3
Expected activity 2 –1 1 5 0
Expected demand –1 2 2 6 0
Past selling prices –4 –6 –3 –4 –6
Expected selling prices –3 –7 –8 –5 –9
Past employment 3 10 5 10 14
except temporary work agencies 1 2 2 6 6
Expected employment 2 8 11 11 10
except temporary work agencies –1 4 5 4 4
Investments
Past investments 2 7 5 8 7
Expected investments 1 3 5 6 9
Operating balance result
Past result –2 –3 4
Expected result –2 3 –7
Cash position –11 –8 –11
Difficulties of supply and demand
difficulties of supply and demand 10 9 12
difficulties of supply only 22 22 21
difficulties of demand only 32 35 33
Difficulties in recruitment 27 24 27
  • * Average since 1989 for the composite indicator and since 1988 for the balances of opinion
  • Source: Insee, business survey in services

The decline in the business climate in services comes from a decrease in all sub-sectors. However, except in accomodation and food services, the composite indicators remain equal or above their long term average.

The business climate remains favourable in road transport

In road transport, the business climate has barely faltered in January (107) and remains clearly above its long term average. In particular, the balance on expected activity has decreased. However, all the balances are still well above their long-term average.

The business climate has declined markedly in accommodation and food service activities

In accommodation and food service activities, the business climate has lost six points (98), returning below its long term average. In particular, the balances on activity, demand, general outlook and expected employment have decreased. They have returned below their long term average, except those concerning expected employment and activity.

In information and communication, the business climate has fallen back to its average

In information and communication, the business climate has lost three points returning to its mean. The expectations on activity and demand have deteriorated sharply. The corresponding balances stand below their long term average. However, the balances on employment have improved, above their long-term average.

The real estate business climate has deteriorated

In real estate, the business climate has lost four points (101), still slightly above its long-term average. The balance on past activity has gone down sharply but remains above its mean. In contrast, the balance concerning expected emloyement has improved significantly.

The business climate has weakened in professional, scientific and technical activities

In professional, scientific and technical activities, the business climate has slightly weakened (103), though still above its mean. The balance on expected activity has decreased markedly, moving below its long term average. However, the balances on employment remain on a favourable track.

In administrative and support service activities, the business climate has hardly faltered

In administrative and support service activities, the business climate has hardly declined (106), still clearly above its long term average. The balance on past activity has improved markedly whereas those on expected activity and demand have slightly decreased, still above their mean. The balances on employment remain far above their long-term average.

Table2Business climate composite indicator and balances of opinion by sub-sector in services

Balances of opinion, in %, seasonally adjusted
Business climate composite indicator and balances of opinion by sub-sector in services (Balances of opinion, in %, seasonally adjusted) -
Aggregated classification (NA 2008) at level A21 Mean* Oct. 16 Nov. 16 Dec. 16 Jan. 17
Road transport (8%)
Composite indicator 100 104 104 108 107
Past activity –8 –1 –11 –6 –2
Expected activity –9 –7 –8 2 –1
Expected demand –12 –6 –3 2 1
Past employment –7 1 1 4 5
Expected employment –10 –1 1 9 –1
General outlook –23 –6 –8 –8 –6
Accommodation and food service activities (11%)
Composite indicator 100 98 102 104 98
Past activity –7 –15 –11 –8 –10
Expected activity –8 –6 –8 –5 –8
Expected demand –10 –8 –2 –5 –13
Past employment –4 –5 –7 0 1
Expected employment –5 3 8 0 –5
General outlook –14 –23 –15 –9 –16
Information and communication (24%)
Composite indicator 100 102 102 103 100
Past activity 8 –4 7 12 –2
Expected activity 9 –1 4 8 –4
Expected demand 10 18 13 15 0
Past employment 6 12 17 17 22
Expected employment 10 17 13 10 12
General outlook 0 –1 –1 –1 –1
Real estate activities (13%)
Composite indicator 100 100 102 105 101
Past activity 7 5 8 17 9
Expected activity 8 11 8 9 7
Expected demand 1 0 3 8 5
Past employment 3 5 8 7 5
Expected employment 2 3 6 2 13
General outlook –2 3 1 6 3
Professional, scientific and technical activities (24%)
Composite indicator 100 100 101 105 103
Past activity –1 –3 –1 0 4
Expected activity –2 –5 –3 1 –6
Expected demand –6 –7 –4 –2 –1
Past employment 1 –1 3 8 10
Expected employment 0 6 5 6 8
General outlook –9 –4 –6 –2 –4
Administrative and support service activities (18%)
Composite indicator 100 101 100 107 106
Past activity 6 –2 –3 7 15
Expected activity 5 4 7 12 9
Expected demand 3 3 1 12 9
Past employment 9 23 9 18 24
Expected employment 7 15 19 22 21
General outlook –5 –3 –3 3 1
  • The figures in parentheses indicate the weights used to aggregate the sub-sector balances of opinion..
  • *Composite indicators: average since 1989 (2006 for road transport); balances of opinion : average since 1988 (2006 for road transport)
  • Source: INSEE, monthly business survey in services.

Pour en savoir plus

: bureau-de-presse@insee.fr
: