7 February 2019
2019- n° 32Business managers in manufacturing industry anticipate a sharp increase in their investment
in 2019 Industrial investment survey - January 2019
The business managers in industry surveyed in January 2019 stated that their investment was stable in nominal terms in 2018, thus raising the estimate given last October by one point. For 2019, the business leaders in industry anticipate to raise sharply their investment spending. Investment should increase by 10% compared with 2018.
The business managers in industry surveyed in January 2019 stated that their investment was stable in nominal terms in 2018, thus raising the estimate given last October by one point. For 2019, the business leaders in industry anticipate to raise sharply their investment spending. Investment should increase by 10% compared with 2018.
tableauAnnual nominal change in investment in the manufacturing industry
Investissement | |
---|---|
1998 | 6 |
1999 | 4 |
2000 | 9 |
2001 | 2 |
2002 | -9 |
2003 | -8 |
2004 | 1 |
2005 | -4 |
2006 | 6 |
2007 | 6 |
2008 | 1 |
2009 | -21 |
2010 | 1 |
2011 | 12 |
2012 | 5 |
2013 | -5 |
2014 | 3 |
2015 | 2 |
2016 | 5 |
2017 | 5 |
2018 | 0 |
2019 | 10 |
- Note: From 1998 to 2017, the evolution is the value ultimately declared ; for 2018 and 2019 the evolution is the estimate from the current survey.
- Source: INSEE - Industrial investment survey.
graphiqueAnnual nominal change in investment in the manufacturing industry

- Note: From 1998 to 2017, the evolution is the value ultimately declared ; for 2018 and 2019 the evolution is the estimate from the current survey.
- Source: INSEE - Industrial investment survey.
For 2019, business managers have significantly increased their investment anticipations
With an expected overall increase of 10% in investment for 2019, business managers have revisedup by 6 points their October 2018 estimate, that is slightly more than usually observed at this time of the year (+4 points on average between 2004 and 2018).
For 2019, investment is expected to pick up speed sharply in the sector of electrical, electronic and machine equipment and in the “other manufacturing” sector. It should rebound strongly in the agri-food industry and in the transport equipment sector.
The business managers estimate could be revised over the next quarters. On average since 2003, the forecast issued in January has been 3 points higher than the value ultimately declared in July of the following year.
tableau – Real annual investment growth in the manufacturing industry by major sector
NA* : (A17) and [A38] | 2018 | 2019 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
forecast Oct.18 | estimated Jan.19 | forecast Oct.18 | forecast Jan.19 | |
C: MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY | -1 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
(C1): Manufacture of food products and beverages | -6 | -3 | 3 | 6 |
(C3): Electrical and electronic equipment; machine equipment | 6 | 5 | 3 | 16 |
(C4): Manufacture of transport equipment | -8 | -5 | 3 | 11 |
[CL1]: Motor vehicles | -10 | -1 | 8 | 18 |
(C5): Other manufacturing | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
Total sectors (C3-C4-C5) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 |
- How to read this table: In the manufacturing industry, firms surveyed in January 2019 declared that nominal investment was stable in 2018 compared with 2017 and forecast an increase of 10% in 2019 compared with 2018.
- * The codes correspond to the level of aggregation (A17) and [A38] of the "NA" aggregate classification based on NAF rev.2.
- Source: INSEE - Industrial investment survey
More business managers plan an increase in their investment than a decrease in the first half of 2019
For the second half of 2018, as compared to the first half-year, more business managers in industry have reported a rise rather than a drop in their investment. The balance related to investment change in the pasthalf-year (+14) has gone slightly down as compared to the previous semester but stays above its long-term average (+7).
For the first half of 2019, business leaders have also been more numerous to anticipate a rise than a drop in their investment. The balance regarding investment in the next half-yearhas picked up to +13, above its long-term average (+4).
tableauOpinion of industrials regarding six-month change in investment (second estimate)
Previous semester | Expected current semester | |
---|---|---|
2003-S1 | 18.6 | 0.1 |
2003-S2 | 4.2 | -0.1 |
2004-S1 | 7.0 | 11.4 |
2004-S2 | -1.6 | 4.2 |
2005-S1 | -2.0 | 10.1 |
2005-S2 | 10.0 | 8.4 |
2006-S1 | 4.6 | 9.8 |
2006-S2 | 14.2 | 16.7 |
2007-S1 | 9.1 | 6.7 |
2007-S2 | 16.3 | 14.3 |
2008-S1 | 2.1 | 5.8 |
2008-S2 | -5.1 | 3.1 |
2009-S1 | -16.1 | -22.6 |
2009-S2 | -14.4 | -19.9 |
2010-S1 | 14.6 | -4.6 |
2010-S2 | 10.7 | 6.9 |
2011-S1 | 12.4 | 13.2 |
2011-S2 | 11.0 | 16.4 |
2012-S1 | 2.1 | 4.8 |
2012-S2 | 2.2 | -7.6 |
2013-S1 | 0.8 | -7.1 |
2013-S2 | 2.8 | -0.6 |
2014-S1 | -1.1 | 0.6 |
2014-S2 | 8.3 | -0.2 |
2015-S1 | 5.2 | 1.7 |
2015-S2 | 14.3 | 11.1 |
2016-S1 | 15.6 | 3.6 |
2016-S2 | 10.6 | 5.3 |
2017-S1 | 17.3 | 13.0 |
2017-S2 | 14.5 | 0.0 |
2018-S1 | 17.5 | 11.7 |
2018-S2 | 14.3 | 9.3 |
2019-S1 | 13.1 |
- Note: this graph illustrates the opinion balances of industrials surveyed for the second time on their investment over the previous semester and on their expected investment for the current semester (January and July surveys).
graphiqueOpinion of industrials regarding six-month change in investment (second estimate)

- Note: this graph illustrates the opinion balances of industrials surveyed for the second time on their investment over the previous semester and on their expected investment for the current semester (January and July surveys).
- Source: INSEE - Industrial investment survey.
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Time series : Industry – Investment