Insee
Informations Rapides · 20 April 2023 · n° 101
Informations rapidesIn April 2023, the business climate in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole lies just at its long-term average Monthly survey of retailing - April 2023

In April 2023, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole has improved very slightly. At 100, the indicator that synthesizes it has gained one point and lies at the level of its long-term average. This modest improvement is mainly due to the rebound of the balance of opinion concerning ordering intentions.

Informations rapides
No 101
Paru le :Paru le20/04/2023
Prochaine parution le : 25/04/2024 at 08:45 - April 2024

In April 2023, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole has improved very slightly. At 100, the indicator that synthesizes it has gained one point and lies at the level of its long-term average. This modest improvement is mainly due to the rebound of the balance of opinion concerning ordering intentions.

Composite indicator

Composite indicator
Business climate synthetic indicator
2023-04 99.8
2023-03 98.9
2023-02 101.9
2023-01 101.0
2022-12 99.2
2022-11 97.1
2022-10 96.7
2022-09 95.2
2022-08 99.2
2022-07 95.3
2022-06 95.2
2022-05 97.4
2022-04 92.5
2022-03 98.9
2022-02 106.8
2022-01 104.7
2021-12 106.9
2021-11 108.4
2021-10 106.0
2021-09 105.8
2021-08 108.8
2021-07 113.8
2021-06 116.1
2021-05 109.8
2021-04 91.7
2021-03 96.0
2021-02 89.2
2021-01 94.0
2020-12 92.6
2020-11 70.4
2020-10 95.0
2020-09 94.7
2020-08 94.1
2020-07 88.8
2020-06 85.4
2020-05 64.2
2020-04 60.8
2020-03 92.6
2020-02 106.2
2020-01 105.8
2019-12 107.7
2019-11 105.7
2019-10 105.3
2019-09 105.2
2019-08 101.3
2019-07 105.8
2019-06 104.7
2019-05 106.1
2019-04 107.7
2019-03 104.2
2019-02 102.5
2019-01 101.0
2018-12 98.4
2018-11 106.0
2018-10 106.0
2018-09 108.3
2018-08 112.5
2018-07 113.3
2018-06 112.6
2018-05 113.6
2018-04 113.6
2018-03 113.9
2018-02 116.0
2018-01 116.2
2017-12 115.5
2017-11 115.0
2017-10 115.3
2017-09 112.9
2017-08 109.3
2017-07 112.0
2017-06 111.0
2017-05 107.3
2017-04 105.7
2017-03 107.0
2017-02 106.0
2017-01 107.3
2016-12 107.8
2016-11 103.5
2016-10 102.1
2016-09 102.8
2016-08 104.4
2016-07 104.4
2016-06 103.5
2016-05 105.8
2016-04 103.0
2016-03 103.4
2016-02 102.4
2016-01 104.2
2015-12 101.3
2015-11 104.6
2015-10 107.7
2015-09 105.5
2015-08 105.9
2015-07 103.0
2015-06 103.7
2015-05 102.4
2015-04 102.3
2015-03 101.4
2015-02 101.1
2015-01 97.9
2014-12 94.2
2014-11 92.5
2014-10 89.2
2014-09 88.7
2014-08 90.6
2014-07 96.3
2014-06 94.5
2014-05 96.2
2014-04 96.2
2014-03 95.0
2014-02 94.5
2014-01 95.1
2013-12 94.2
2013-11 91.5
2013-10 95.4
2013-09 97.2
2013-08 93.3
2013-07 85.8
2013-06 84.9
2013-05 83.7
2013-04 84.3
2013-03 86.2
2013-02 89.3
2013-01 85.5
2012-12 88.0
2012-11 88.3
2012-10 87.6
2012-09 86.3
2012-08 90.7
2012-07 89.1
2012-06 93.0
2012-05 91.1
2012-04 96.2
2012-03 93.8
2012-02 90.7
2012-01 88.7
2011-12 93.2
2011-11 93.9
2011-10 94.9
2011-09 94.1
2011-08 98.5
2011-07 102.0
2011-06 102.5
2011-05 104.1
2011-04 103.1
2011-03 103.8
2011-02 106.2
2011-01 106.1
2010-12 107.4
2010-11 104.2
2010-10 106.9
2010-09 105.5
2010-08 105.6
2010-07 100.9
2010-06 100.4
2010-05 101.5
2010-04 102.7
2010-03 97.8
2010-02 98.5
2010-01 98.3
2009-12 96.6
2009-11 97.6
2009-10 92.1
2009-09 89.9
2009-08 86.9
2009-07 85.4
2009-06 79.6
2009-05 79.9
2009-04 76.1
2009-03 80.7
2009-02 79.2
2009-01 78.0
2008-12 77.1
2008-11 82.8
2008-10 81.3
2008-09 94.8
2008-08 93.5
2008-07 95.7
2008-06 99.2
2008-05 102.3
2008-04 103.3
2008-03 108.4
2008-02 108.0
2008-01 109.8
2007-12 113.8
2007-11 112.8
2007-10 111.2
2007-09 112.2
2007-08 114.8
2007-07 116.4
2007-06 119.8
2007-05 114.0
2007-04 112.6
2007-03 110.4
2007-02 111.4
2007-01 107.1
2006-12 107.9
2006-11 110.1
2006-10 111.4
2006-09 110.1
2006-08 109.4
2006-07 107.9
2006-06 107.2
2006-05 105.2
2006-04 103.1
2006-03 101.9
2006-02 101.9
2006-01 102.6
2005-12 103.3
2005-11 99.4
2005-10 100.9
2005-09 98.2
2005-08 97.2
2005-07 95.6
2005-06 97.5
2005-05 101.0
2005-04 103.2
2005-03 103.8
2005-02 103.4
2005-01 105.6

Composite indicator

  • Source: INSEE

The balance of opinion related to ordering intentions has rebounded

In April 2023, the balances of opinion on ordering intentions and on the general business outlook have slightly increased and have moved closer to their long-term averages. The one about past sales has slightly rebounded and has moved away from its own. In parallel, the one on expected sales has also rebounded, more sharply, and has moved closer to its average level. Finally, compared to last month, slightly fewer business managers consider that the evolution of their business situation is difficult to forecast.

The balance of opinion associated with the recent change in the workforce size is stable while the one related to the workforce size for the next three months has diminished slightly. Both of them lie below their respective averages.

The balance associated with the current level of stocks has retreated but remains below its average.

Tendency in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Tendency in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) Jan. 23 Feb. 23 Mar. 23 Apr. 23
Business climate 100 101 102 99 100
General business outlook -28 -28 -25 -25 -23
Recent sales -7 8 1 -5 -4
Expected sales -3 -6 -5 -9 -5
Ordering intentions -8 -10 -9 -15 -12
Stocks 10 7 6 9 7
Past selling prices (2) -4 43 - 45 -
Expected selling prices -1 41 45 47 36
Cash position (2) -15 -20 - -17 -
Past workforce size 0 -5 -7 -6 -6
Expected workforce size -4 -6 -6 -8 -9
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 38 42 44 42 41
  • (1) Average since 1991 (except 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions, and April 2021 for uncertainty felt).
  • (2) Bimonthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • (3) Non-seasonally adjusted balance.
  • Source: INSEE - monthly survey in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Recent sales and ordering intentions

Recent sales and ordering intentions
Ordering intentions Recent sales
2023-04 -12.5 -4.5
2023-03 -15.0 -5.1
2023-02 -8.5 1.4
2023-01 -10.2 8.5
2022-12 -10.8 -0.4
2022-11 -15.6 0.9
2022-10 -12.1 -4.8
2022-09 -17.3 -8.9
2022-08 -9.2 -12.0
2022-07 -9.6 -20.0
2022-06 -12.0 -16.2
2022-05 -11.0 -12.0
2022-04 -16.4 -18.0
2022-03 -5.2 -11.8
2022-02 -1.8 -5.0
2022-01 -2.2 -2.5
2021-12 -2.2 -5.4
2021-11 -0.8 -12.5
2021-10 -7.4 -19.9
2021-09 -5.1 -15.2
2021-08 1.2 11.6
2021-07 3.8 1.1
2021-06 1.6 -1.8
2021-05 -3.6 -10.3
2021-04 -13.3 -6.6
2021-03 -8.6 -15.9
2021-02 -14.4 -12.7
2021-01 -12.7 -3.5
2020-12 -12.1 -21.4
2020-11 -37.3 6.1
2020-10 -2.8 -4.3
2020-09 -8.6 2.6
2020-08 -7.4 -8.7
2020-07 -8.2 -40.7
2020-06 -13.0 -47.9
2020-05 -43.3 -56.0
2020-04 -52.9 -2.4
2020-03 -12.5 -4.2
2020-02 -0.2 2.4
2020-01 -2.6 12.7
2019-12 0.5 -1.3
2019-11 -1.3 -6.9
2019-10 -4.9 -8.5
2019-09 -4.9 -2.8
2019-08 -12.3 -3.7
2019-07 -3.6 -2.1
2019-06 -7.0 -8.4
2019-05 -2.6 -10.8
2019-04 3.3 -12.2
2019-03 -2.5 -17.9
2019-02 -6.2 -9.8
2019-01 -6.8 -7.7
2018-12 -6.5 -9.2
2018-11 -0.9 -7.7
2018-10 -3.7 -10.2
2018-09 0.7 -1.3
2018-08 8.5 2.0
2018-07 5.1 -0.2
2018-06 5.9 -8.0
2018-05 5.7 -6.7
2018-04 4.4 -9.0
2018-03 2.1 -8.5
2018-02 3.9 4.9
2018-01 5.4 3.2
2017-12 5.3 0.3
2017-11 8.1 -6.8
2017-10 9.4 -3.2
2017-09 3.9 -5.2
2017-08 -6.1 0.3
2017-07 0.4 7.9
2017-06 -0.2 -5.1
2017-05 -0.7 -5.1
2017-04 -1.5 -12.2
2017-03 0.3 -2.2
2017-02 -0.6 4.3
2017-01 0.2 2.5
2016-12 -0.1 -1.2
2016-11 -9.2 -6.3
2016-10 -8.2 -10.7
2016-09 -6.1 -10.5
2016-08 -3.9 -4.1
2016-07 -5.1 -5.1
2016-06 -3.7 -4.0
2016-05 -3.8 4.8
2016-04 -8.7 1.5
2016-03 -3.5 -5.2
2016-02 -6.8 -9.2
2016-01 -6.1 -4.9
2015-12 -5.2 -15.3
2015-11 -3.5 3.0
2015-10 0.3 4.4
2015-09 -2.6 1.6
2015-08 -1.5 8.0
2015-07 -6.3 -0.6
2015-06 -1.3 -8.3
2015-05 -3.0 -4.4
2015-04 -2.2 -2.6
2015-03 -3.3 -5.4
2015-02 -1.9 -4.3
2015-01 -4.9 -8.6
2014-12 -12.7 -10.2
2014-11 -13.6 -14.7
2014-10 -16.8 -23.7
2014-09 -18.4 -30.6
2014-08 -17.3 -19.8
2014-07 -10.3 -5.9
2014-06 -13.8 -11.9
2014-05 -11.3 -14.8
2014-04 -9.6 -21.3
2014-03 -11.1 -16.9
2014-02 -13.3 -13.1
2014-01 -12.7 -10.7
2013-12 -15.2 -10.6
2013-11 -13.5 -12.9
2013-10 -13.4 -11.5
2013-09 -7.5 -12.8
2013-08 -13.4 -18.3
2013-07 -23.1 -26.0
2013-06 -19.4 -24.4
2013-05 -21.7 -29.8
2013-04 -19.6 -31.8
2013-03 -17.1 -25.9
2013-02 -14.0 -27.2
2013-01 -25.5 -17.3
2012-12 -17.7 -21.2
2012-11 -18.5 -16.4
2012-10 -19.3 -23.0
2012-09 -21.7 -23.8
2012-08 -15.1 -8.3
2012-07 -15.4 -19.5
2012-06 -12.9 -18.3
2012-05 -16.8 -14.8
2012-04 -13.7 -8.1
2012-03 -16.0 -12.3
2012-02 -15.4 -15.4
2012-01 -19.9 -20.3
2011-12 -13.9 -17.5
2011-11 -12.6 -13.0
2011-10 -13.5 -15.7
2011-09 -13.1 -17.4
2011-08 -11.3 -6.5
2011-07 -11.6 -9.4
2011-06 -11.4 0.1
2011-05 -7.9 3.6
2011-04 -7.2 1.7
2011-03 -5.8 -6.4
2011-02 -2.4 1.6
2011-01 -1.8 4.3
2010-12 -1.3 4.1
2010-11 -4.9 -8.0
2010-10 1.3 -3.9
2010-09 -2.3 -1.8
2010-08 -1.6 4.0
2010-07 -7.9 -5.3
2010-06 -4.7 -1.0
2010-05 -7.0 2.1
2010-04 -4.5 -2.7
2010-03 -10.0 -20.1
2010-02 -9.9 -13.0
2010-01 -13.4 -4.7

Recent sales and ordering intentions

  • Source: INSEE

The balance of opinion on the expected selling prices has declined sharply

In April 2023, the balance of opinion on the expected selling prices has sharply decreased, after having reached last month its highest level since the beginning of the series (1991). It remains yet well above its long-term average.

Expected prices in retail trade

Expected prices in retail trade
Expected prices
2023-04 36.1
2023-03 47.3
2023-02 45.3
2023-01 41.0
2022-12 37.5
2022-11 38.0
2022-10 42.7
2022-09 38.2
2022-08 42.5
2022-07 40.6
2022-06 41.4
2022-05 42.9
2022-04 36.9
2022-03 38.1
2022-02 35.4
2022-01 25.3
2021-12 25.0
2021-11 26.1
2021-10 22.1
2021-09 12.7
2021-08 14.8
2021-07 13.8
2021-06 10.7
2021-05 5.3
2021-04 1.3
2021-03 2.2
2021-02 -0.5
2021-01 -0.2
2020-12 -3.8
2020-11 -4.2
2020-10 1.5
2020-09 -1.2
2020-08 0.3
2020-07 -2.2
2020-06 -3.0
2020-05 -6.8
2020-04 -7.4
2020-03 -1.0
2020-02 1.9
2020-01 -0.7
2019-12 3.1
2019-11 1.0
2019-10 2.8
2019-09 0.1
2019-08 -0.6
2019-07 -0.8
2019-06 -2.7
2019-05 0.6
2019-04 3.1
2019-03 1.3
2019-02 0.0
2019-01 -3.3
2018-12 4.0
2018-11 -1.8
2018-10 -1.4
2018-09 -0.8
2018-08 -1.2
2018-07 1.0
2018-06 -2.9
2018-05 -1.4
2018-04 -2.4
2018-03 -3.1
2018-02 0.6
2018-01 -3.8
2017-12 -1.6
2017-11 1.0
2017-10 3.3
2017-09 -2.7
2017-08 -0.1
2017-07 -2.4
2017-06 -1.8
2017-05 -7.5
2017-04 -3.7
2017-03 -0.7
2017-02 -4.7
2017-01 0.0
2016-12 -0.7
2016-11 -1.2
2016-10 -7.3
2016-09 -6.5
2016-08 -4.2
2016-07 -4.5
2016-06 -7.6
2016-05 -4.7
2016-04 -6.4
2016-03 -5.1
2016-02 -6.6
2016-01 -8.3
2015-12 -7.5
2015-11 -2.8
2015-10 -3.0
2015-09 -7.2
2015-08 -7.8
2015-07 -5.6
2015-06 -3.1
2015-05 -7.4
2015-04 -5.3
2015-03 -9.3
2015-02 -10.0
2015-01 -11.7
2014-12 -11.4
2014-11 -11.8
2014-10 -13.8
2014-09 -14.0
2014-08 -12.2
2014-07 -9.7
2014-06 -13.9
2014-05 -14.2
2014-04 -16.4
2014-03 -12.7
2014-02 -10.3
2014-01 -2.4
2013-12 -1.0
2013-11 -3.6
2013-10 -2.9
2013-09 -0.5
2013-08 -3.5
2013-07 -1.6
2013-06 -6.9
2013-05 -0.7
2013-04 -13.8
2013-03 -1.6
2013-02 -8.2
2013-01 -6.3
2012-12 -1.6
2012-11 -5.0
2012-10 -4.8
2012-09 -0.9
2012-08 -3.6
2012-07 -1.8
2012-06 -2.0
2012-05 -1.6
2012-04 -1.2
2012-03 3.7
2012-02 3.7
2012-01 5.1
2011-12 7.1
2011-11 4.8
2011-10 3.3
2011-09 3.3
2011-08 5.2
2011-07 4.8
2011-06 5.2
2011-05 9.7
2011-04 9.0
2011-03 7.6
2011-02 5.8
2011-01 2.5
2010-12 -1.4
2010-11 -0.2
2010-10 0.8
2010-09 -1.7
2010-08 -5.0
2010-07 -3.6
2010-06 -0.8
2010-05 -3.4
2010-04 -4.2
2010-03 -4.3
2010-02 -5.0
2010-01 -5.7
2009-12 -5.7
2009-11 -9.3
2009-10 -8.0
2009-09 -4.9
2009-08 -11.4
2009-07 -5.7
2009-06 -16.4
2009-05 -17.4
2009-04 -18.3
2009-03 -30.6
2009-02 -17.4
2009-01 -17.8
2008-12 -20.4
2008-11 -26.8
2008-10 -6.3
2008-09 -15.4
2008-08 4.6
2008-07 6.0
2008-06 3.8
2008-05 1.9
2008-04 1.5
2008-03 8.1
2008-02 1.5
2008-01 5.4
2007-12 3.1
2007-11 14.5
2007-10 0.0
2007-09 7.8
2007-08 0.7
2007-07 -6.0
2007-06 -5.0
2007-05 -1.7
2007-04 -8.9
2007-03 -5.8
2007-02 -1.7
2007-01 -6.2

Expected prices in retail trade

  • Source: INSEE

The balance of opinion on expected sales has increased in retail trade (excluding trade and repair of motor vehicles) as well as in trade and repair of motor vehicles

In retail trade (excluding trade and repair of motor vehicles), the balance of opinion on expected sales has increased and has moved back to its long-term average. It has also rebounded in trade and repair of motor vehicles, but remains below its own. Moreover, the balance on ordering intentions has increased in retail trade (excluding trade and repair of motor vehicles) but has retreated in trade and repair of motor vehicles.

Concerning the workforce size, the balance of opinion related to its evolution for the next three months has diminished again in retail trade (excluding trade and repair of motor vehicles) but has slightly increased in trade and repair of motor vehicles.

Balances of opinion by sub-sector in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Balances of opinion by sub-sector in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) Jan. 23 Feb. 23 Mar. 23 Apr. 23
Retail trade
General business outlook -28 -28 -24 -24 -22
Recent sales -7 16 3 2 0
Expected sales -2 -4 -6 -5 -2
Ordering intentions -7 -12 -12 -16 -11
Stocks 9 10 9 12 9
Past selling prices (2) -6 46 - 50 -
Expected selling prices -3 45 52 52 43
Cash position (2) -14 -22 - -17 -
Past workforce size 0 -4 -9 -7 -7
Expected workforce size -3 -7 -6 -9 -11
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 36 40 42 39 39
Trade and repair of motor vehicles
General business outlook -26 -30 -27 -29 -27
Recent sales -7 -8 -3 -21 -15
Expected sales -7 -11 -3 -19 -11
Ordering intentions -9 -6 -1 -12 -17
Stocks 12 -1 0 2 3
Past selling prices (2) 4 35 - 33 -
Expected selling prices 7 32 31 36 21
Cash position (2) -21 -17 - -17 -
Past workforce size -7 -7 -2 -2 -2
Expected workforce size -5 0 -3 -2 -1
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 43 46 48 49 45
  • (1) Average since 1991 for retail trade and 2003 for trade and repair of motor vehicles (except 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions, and April 2021 for uncertainty felt).
  • (2) Bimonthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • (3) Non-seasonally adjusted balance.
  • Source: INSEE - monthly survey in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Revisions

The business climate for March 2023 in retail trade (including trade and repair of motor vehicles) has not been revised (after rounding).

For more information

The whole sector “retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles” is composed for 70% of retail trade and for 30% of trade and repair of motor vehicles.

For the three-modality questions, a balance of opinion is the difference between weighted percentage of “increase” or “above normal” answers and weighted percentage of “decrease” or “below normal” answers.

Company responses were collected between 27 March and 17 April 2023.

Next issue: 25 May 2023 at 8:45 am

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