Informations rapides
25 July 2017
2017- n° 195
In July 2017, the industrialists' opinion on past change of global and foreign demand has significantly improved Quarterly business survey (goods-producing industries) - July 2017

In July 2017, the balances of opinion on past change of global and foreign demand have sharply increased compared to April. They have reached their highest level since April 2011, significantly above their normal. For the next three months, business managers remain upbeat on global and foreign demand; the corresponding balances remain above normal.

Informations rapides
No 195
Paru le :Paru le25/07/2017
Prochaine parution le : 24/10/2024 at 08:45 - October 2024

Warning: In the survey of July 2017, the weights used to aggregate the responses of the business managers have been updated. The seasonal coefficients have also been updated.Consequently, the set of results previously published in this quarterly survey is subject to slight revisions.

Much more industrialists have indicated an increase in past demand

In July 2017, the balances of opinion on past change of global and foreign demand have sharply increased compared to April. They have reached their highest level since April 2011, significantly above their normal. For the next three months, business managers remain upbeat on global and foreign demand; the corresponding balances remain above normal.

Graphang1_bisBalance of opinion of past change in demand

Slight increase in the use of production capacity

In July 2017, the industrialists have reported that they used slightly more their machinery and equipment than in April. The production capacity utilisation rate has increased by 0.4 points during the past three months. At 84.3%, it has exceeded its average between 1995 and 2007.

A few more industrialists than in April consider that they could not produce more if they received more orders: production bottlenecks have increased, the corresponding indicator is significantly above its long-term average. The proportion of industrialists indicating difficulties of supply remains close to normal, that of industrialists reporting difficulties of demand only remains below its long-term average.

Graphang2Production capacity utilisation rate

tableau1Industrialists' opinion: demand and production factors

Balance of opinion, in %
Industrialists' opinion: demand and production factors (Balance of opinion, in %) -
Manufacturing industry Mean Oct. 16 Jan. 17 April 17 July 17
Global demand
Past change 0 4 12 10 16
Future change 1 8 9 8 10
Foreign demand
Past change 2 6 13 8 20
Future change 4 7 9 11 12
Production factors
Production bottlenecks (in %) 22 27 29 29 31
Assessment of productive capacity 14 11 9 4 3
Production capacity utilisation rate (in %) 82.9 83.0 84.0 83.9 84.3
Difficulties of supply and demand (in %)
Difficulties of supply and demand 8 10 9 7 8
Difficulties of supply only 20 18 20 21 22
Difficulties of demand only 43 36 34 32 31
  • * : Long-term average since 1976, except for questions on difficulties of supply and demand.
  • The results of the last survey are preliminary.
  • Source: INSEE - Quarterly business survey in industry

A few less industrialists than in April forecast job cuts

In July 2017, almost as industrialists as in April have reported that they reduced workforce in the past three months. Nevertheless, they are less to forecast job cuts in the next months. Both balances have been above their long-term average since October 2013.

Two out of five industrialists have experienced hiring difficulties; this part has significantly increased in July and has reached its highest level since July 2008, above its long-term average.

Graphang3Workforce size in the manufacturing industry

Virtual stabilisation in past selling prices

According to industrialists, selling prices in the manufacturing industry have barely increased in Q2 2017 (+0.2%). Business managers forecast a further small increase in Q3 2017 (+0.2%).

Only 10% of the industrialists have experienced cash-flow problems, a level virtually stable since April 2013, below its mean level (14%).

General exportation expectations have taken off

In July 2017, industrialists are much more upbeat than in April on general exportation expectations: the balance of opinion has bounced back to its highest level since October 2000, significantly above normal. The industrialists' opinion on their competitive position is almost unchanged on domestic market, stable on foreign markets inside EU but has faltered regarding outside EU markets. These three balances remains above their long-term average.

Graphang4Competitive position

tableau2Industrialists' opinion: employment, competitive position, cash-flow and selling prices

Balance of opinion, in %
Industrialists' opinion: employment, competitive position, cash-flow and selling prices (Balance of opinion, in %) -
Manufacturing industry Mean Oct. 16 Jan. 17 April 17 July 17
Workforce size
Past change –11 –5 –3 –2 –1
Expected change –12 –2 –4 –3 –1
Difficulties hiring (in %) 28 34 27 31 39
Selling prices and cash-flow
Past change on selling prices 0.1 –0.1 0.3 0.4 0.2
Expected change on selling prices 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2
Cash-flow problems (in %) 14 11 11 10 10
Competitive position
On domestic market 1 1 1 3 2
On foreign markets inside EU –1 0 1 5 5
On foreign markets outside EU –2 –2 3 4 1
General exportation expectations –9 –1 3 –4 14
  • * : Long-term average since 1976, except for workforce change (since 1976) and for competitive position by market (since 1997).
  • The results of the last survey are preliminary.
  • A quantitative question is asked about selling prices.
  • Source: INSEE - Quarterly business survey in industry

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