Informations rapides
23 March 2017
2017- n° 77
In March 2017, the business climate in services is stable above its long-term average Monthly survey of services - March 2017

According to business managers surveyed in March 2017, the business climate in services remains favourable. The business climate composite indicator is stable and stands at 104, above its long-term average (100). Because of late businesses' answers that have been taken into account, the indicator in February has been revised upward by one point.

Informations rapides
No 77
Paru le :Paru le23/03/2017
Prochaine parution le : 20/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

According to business managers surveyed in March 2017, the business climate in services remains favourable. The business climate composite indicator is stable and stands at 104, above its long-term average (100). Because of late businesses' answers that have been taken into account, the indicator in February has been revised upward by one point.

Graph1Business climate composite indicator

The turning point indicator remains in the area indicating a favourable short-term outlook.

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.

Business prospects are steady at their long-term average

The balance on general outlook, which relates the assessment of business leaders over their whole sector, is stable and clearly above its long-term average. The balance on past activity, already slightly above its long-term average, has improved again. However, the balance on expected activity is virtually stable at its long-term average. The expectations on demand have decreased slightly and the corresponding balance has almost fallen back to its long-term average.

The balances on past and expected employment are unchanged and thus remain clearly above their long-term average.

The balances on past and expected selling prices have gone up slightly and stand almost at their long-term average.

The balances on past and expected investments are stable or almost. Both balances remain 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* Dec. 16 Jan. 17 Feb. 17 March 17
Composite indicator 100 106 102 104 104
General outlook –8 –1 –3 –2 –2
Past activity 2 5 4 4 7
Expected activity 2 5 0 1 2
Expected demand –1 6 0 2 0
Past selling prices –4 –4 –6 –7 –5
Expected selling prices –3 –5 –8 –3 –2
Past employment 3 10 13 12 12
except temporary work agencies 1 6 5 2 4
Expected employment 2 11 10 12 12
except temporary work agencies –1 4 4 2 2
Investments
Past investments 2 8 6 7 8
Expected investments 1 6 8 7 7
  • * Average since 1989 for the composite indicator and since 1988 for the balances of opinion
  • Source: INSEE, monthly business survey in services.

In most subsectors, the business climate is virtually stable. However, it has declined in accommodation and food service activities, whereas it has improved markedly in administrative and support service activities.

Near stability of the road transport business climate

In road transport, the business climate is practically stable. At 107, it stands well above its long-term average. The balances on past activity and employment have improved, but those on expected activity and employment have declined. All balances remain clearly above their long-term average.

In accommodation and food services, the business climate has fallen back just below its long-term average

In accommodation and food services, the business climate has fallen back slighlty below its long-term average (99). The balance on past activity has increased significantly, but the balances on expected activity and demand have gone down sharply, returning below their long-term average.

The business climate is virtually stable in information and communication

In information and communication, the business climate remains slightly above its long-term average (101). The balance on past activity has recovered markedly. However, the balance on expected demand has deviated further from its long-term average.

The business climate in real estate activities is unchanged

In real estate activities, the business climate is stable, slightly above its long-term average (101). The balance on expected activity has recovered significantly, offsetting the decrease in the other balances.

In professional, scientific and technical activities, the business climate has declined slightly

The business climate in professional, scientific and technical activities has gone down by one point, mostly because of the balance on general outlook, which has slightly declined. The other balances are stable or almost. However, at 104, the business climate remains above its long-term average.

The business climate has improved in administrative and support service activities

In administrative and support service activities, the business climate has increased anew. At 109, it stands clearly above its long-term average. The balances on expected activity and demand have gone up sharply. All balances are much higher than their long-term average, particularly those on employment.

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* Dec. 16 Jan. 17 Feb. 17 March 17
Road transport (8%)
Composite indicator 100 108 107 108 107
Past activity –8 –6 –3 2 5
Expected activity –9 2 0 6 –2
Expected demand –12 2 2 –3 0
Past employment –7 4 5 4 10
Expected employment –10 9 2 6 3
General outlook –23 –8 –6 –8 –6
Accommodation and food service activities (11%)
Composite indicator 100 104 99 102 99
Past activity –7 –8 –6 –11 2
Expected activity –8 –5 –6 –5 –14
Expected demand –10 –5 –12 –6 –12
Past employment –4 0 –1 –6 –5
Expected employment –6 0 –5 –7 –5
General outlook –14 –9 –16 –11 –14
Information and communication (24%)
Composite indicator 100 103 100 100 101
Past activity 8 12 0 –3 10
Expected activity 9 8 –3 0 3
Expected demand 10 15 1 1 –4
Past employment 6 17 23 14 7
Expected employment 10 10 11 15 14
General outlook 0 –1 –1 –2 0
Real estate activities (13%)
Composite indicator 100 105 102 101 101
Past activity 7 17 9 11 5
Expected activity 8 9 8 4 11
Expected demand 1 8 5 5 3
Past employment 3 7 4 11 4
Expected employment 2 2 13 6 3
General outlook –2 6 4 5 2
Professional, scientific and technical activities (24%)
Composite indicator 100 105 102 105 104
Past activity –1 0 4 5 4
Expected activity –2 1 –6 –2 –1
Expected demand –6 –2 –2 1 0
Past employment 1 8 10 7 7
Expected employment 0 6 7 5 6
General outlook –9 –2 –4 –2 –4
Administrative and support service activities (18%)
Composite indicator 100 107 106 106 109
Past activity 6 7 15 18 17
Expected activity 5 12 9 8 15
Expected demand 3 12 9 7 13
Past employment 9 18 23 26 27
Expected employment 7 22 20 26 29
General outlook –5 3 2 3 4
  • 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.

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