31 May 2017

2017- n° 149

In March 2017, services output bounced back (+1.0%) Index of services production - March 2017

In March 2017, output recovered in services (+1.0%) after a drop in February (−0.5%).

Over the first quarter of 2017, services production increased by 1.4% compared to the last quarter of 2016.

It grew by 1.2% in business support activities, in particular in specialised, scientific and technical activities (+2.0%). It rose sharply in information and communication (+1.8%), accomodation and food services activities (+2.4%) and household services (+2.6%). It also increased in transportation and storage (+1.0%). It was stable in real estate activities.

In services, output of the last three months rose sharply over a year (+3.3%), with an increase in all sectors.

It went up strongly in business support (+4.4%), be it in administrative and business service activities (+5.1%) or in specialised, scientific and technical activities (+3.8%). It grew sharply in information and communication (+3.1%), real estate activities (+3.3%), and food and beverage services activities (+3.6%). It increased more moderately in transportation and storage (+1.6%) and in household services (+0.8%).

In March 2017, output in business support activities bounced back sharply (+2.0% after −2.0% in February).

It recovered significantly in specialised, scientific and technical activities (+2.3% after −2.5%), particularly in architecture and engineering activities (+3.3%), scientific research and development (+4.9%), activities of head offices and management consultancy (+1.7%) and legal and accounting activities (+2.3%).

Output bounced back also in administrative and business support activities (+1.7% after −1.3%), notably in rental and leasing activities (+2.3%), other administrative and business support activities (+2.8%) and employment activities (+1.1%).

In March, output in information and communication went up sharply again (+1.8% after +1.4%), held up by a significant rise in computer programming, consultancy and related activities (+4.5%).

Output in household services fell back sharply in March (−3.0%) after a marked increase in February (+2.2%). It sank notably in arts, entertainment and recreation (−5.1%).

In March, output in transportation and storage recovered slightly (+0.4% after −1.5%). It bounced back in warehousing and support for transportation (+3.4% after −3.7%) and in land transport (+1.1% after −0.9%). By contrast, it slipped back steeply in water transport (−17.2% after +16.4%).

In March, output was stable in accomodation and food services after +1.5% in February. It was virtually stable both in food and beverage service activities and accomodation.

The month-on-month variation rate of the index of services production in February 2017 has been revised upwards by 0.2 points, mainly due to raw series updating. Initially published at −0.7%, it has been stated at −0.5%.