Informations Rapides · 23 September 2021 · n° 241

In September 2021, the business climate in retail trade and in trade and repair of vehicles as a whole has deteriorated again Monthly survey of retailing - September 2021

In September 2021, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of vehicles as a whole has deteriorated for the third consecutive month. At 106, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost three points but remains above its long-term average (100). This decline is mainly due to the sharp drop in the balances of opinion on recent sales and on ordering intentions.

In September 2021, the balance of opinion on sales for the last three months has fallen back sharply and returned significantly below its long-term average. At the same time, the balance on expected sales for the next three months has sharply fallen for the third month in a row and moved away from its average. That on ordering intentions has fallen back sharply, but remains above its average.

However, the balance of opinion on the general business outlook for the sector for the next three months has picked up after two months of sharp decline. It remains above his long-term average.

In September 2021, the balance of opinion of the business managers on the expected trend in their workforce size for the next three months has declined, after four consecutive months of increases. It has moved away from his long-term average after almost hitting it in August.

At the same time, the balance on the recent change in the workforce size over the last three months has recovered but remains below its average.

In September 2021, in retail trade the business climate has weakened again. At 97, the composite indicator has lost three points and returned below its long-term average. This deterioration is mainly due to the marked drop in the balances of opinion on expected employment and recent sales.

Indeed, the balance of opinion on sales for the last three months has plummeted and returned below its average. This sharp drop affects the specialised retail trade and even more so the non-specialised retail trade. In the latter, the balance has fallen steeply, returning well below its average, especially due to predominantly food retailing. The balance of opinion on expected sales is stable, below its average.

Retailers remain rather negative about employment prospects. The balance of opinions on the change in their workforce size over the next three months has sharply decreased and moved away from its average. The one for the last three months has recovered but remains below its own.

However, retailers are generally more optimistic than in the previous month on the general business outlook for the sector. The corresponding balance has improved after two consecutive declines. It stands well above its long-term average.

The balance of opinion on ordering intentions has fallen back somewhat, due to specialised retailing, but remains above its average.

Finally, the balance of opinion on the level of stocks has been virtually stable, after three consecutive months of decline. It remains below its long-term average.

In trade and repair of vehicles, the business climate has weakened since July after reaching a very high level in June. At 105, it has lost three points in September but remains above its average (100). This further deterioration is explained by the decline in most of its components. Only the balances on the sector’s business outlook and on recent prices are on the rise.

Business managers' assessment of their sales, both recent and expected, has shrunk significantly and deviated from their average.

The balance of opinion on ordering intentions has fallen for the third consecutive month, while remaining above its average.

Regarding employment, the balances on recent and expected changes in the workforce size have decreased. However, these two balances remain above their respective averages.

The balance of opinion on the level of stocks has fallen again, more than in the previous month, and stands well below its average.

The balance on the expected development in selling prices for the next three months has declined. The bimonthly balance on the development in selling prices for the last three months has increased sharply compared to July and stands at its highest level since the start of the series (March 2003). These two balances stand well above their averages.

The overall assessment of the business managers on the business outlook for the sector has improved after having deteriorated sharply in the past two months. This balance has deviated further from its average.