Insee
Informations Rapides · 25 May 2023 · n° 129
Informations rapidesIn May 2023, the business climate in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole has slightly deteriorated Monthly survey of retailing - May 2023

In May 2023, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole has slightly deteriorated. At 100, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost one point and lies at the level of its long-term average. This modest decline is mainly due to the decrease of the balance of opinion concerning ordering intentions and the recent change in the workforce size.

Informations rapides
No 129
Paru le :Paru le25/05/2023
Prochaine parution le : 24/10/2024 at 08:45 - October 2024

In May 2023, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole has slightly deteriorated. At 100, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost one point and lies at the level of its long-term average. This modest decline is mainly due to the decrease of the balance of opinion concerning ordering intentions and the recent change in the workforce size.

Composite indicator

Composite indicator
Business climate synthetic indicator
2023-05 100.1
2023-04 101.1
2023-03 98.8
2023-02 101.9
2023-01 101.0
2022-12 99.2
2022-11 97.0
2022-10 96.7
2022-09 95.2
2022-08 99.2
2022-07 95.3
2022-06 95.2
2022-05 97.3
2022-04 92.4
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
2021-05 109.9
2021-04 91.7
2021-03 96.0
2021-02 89.2
2021-01 94.0
2020-12 92.6
2020-11 70.3
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
2018-08 112.6
2018-07 113.3
2018-06 112.7
2018-05 113.6
2018-04 113.6
2018-03 114.0
2018-02 116.0
2018-01 116.3
2017-12 115.5
2017-11 115.1
2017-10 115.3
2017-09 112.9
2017-08 109.3
2017-07 112.0
2017-06 111.0
2017-05 107.3
2017-04 105.8
2017-03 107.0
2017-02 106.0
2017-01 107.3
2016-12 107.8
2016-11 103.6
2016-10 102.1
2016-09 102.8
2016-08 104.4
2016-07 104.5
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
2015-03 101.5
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 94.1
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 83.6
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 89.0
2012-06 93.0
2012-05 91.0
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
2011-01 106.2
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 79.1
2009-01 78.0
2008-12 77.1
2008-11 82.8
2008-10 81.3
2008-09 94.8
2008-08 93.4
2008-07 95.7
2008-06 99.2
2008-05 102.3
2008-04 103.3
2008-03 108.5
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
2007-07 116.5
2007-06 119.8
2007-05 114.0
2007-04 112.6
2007-03 110.4
2007-02 111.5
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 balances of opinion related to ordering intentions and past sales have retreated

In May 2023, the balances of opinion on ordering intentions and on expected sales have retreated and have moved below their long-term averages. The one about past sales has also retreated and has moved closer to its own. Conversely, the one on the general business outlook has increased again and has moved away from its average level. Finally, compared to last month, far 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 has diminished markedly while the one related to its expected change has slightly rebounded. Both of them lie below their respective averages.

The balance associated with the current level of stocks has slightly rebounded 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) Feb. 23 Mar. 23 Apr. 23 May 23
Business climate 100 102 99 101 100
General business outlook -28 -25 -25 -23 -19
Recent sales -7 1 -5 -1 -5
Expected sales -3 -5 -9 -2 -7
Ordering intentions -8 -9 -15 -9 -13
Stocks 10 6 9 8 9
Past selling prices (2) -3 - 44 - 37
Expected selling prices -1 45 47 38 28
Cash position (2) -15 - -18 - -17
Past workforce size 0 -7 -6 -6 -12
Expected workforce size -4 -6 -8 -10 -9
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 38 44 42 42 32
  • (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
2023-05 -12.7 -4.9
2023-04 -9.0 -1.0
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 again sharply

In May 2023, the balance of opinion on the expected selling prices has sharply decreased for the second month in a row, after having reached in March its highest level since the beginning of the series (1991). It remains nonetheless well above its long-term average. Similarly, the bimonthly balance on past prices has retreated compared to March but remains high.

Expected prices in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Expected prices in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles
Expected prices
2023-05 28.2
2023-04 37.8
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 and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

  • Source: INSEE

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

The balances of opinion on past sales and on ordering intentions have retreated in retail trade (excluding trade and repair of motor vehicles) but have increased slightly in trade and repair of motor vehicles. The balance on expected sales has retreated for its part in both sub-sectors.

Concerning the workforce size, the balance of opinion related to its evolution for the next three months has rebounded in retail trade (excluding trade and repair of motor vehicles) but has strongly retreated 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) Feb. 23 Mar. 23 Apr. 23 May 23
Retail trade
General business outlook -28 -24 -24 -22 -19
Recent sales -7 3 2 4 -2
Expected sales -2 -6 -5 1 -2
Ordering intentions -7 -12 -16 -7 -12
Stocks 9 9 12 9 13
Past selling prices (2) -5 - 49 - 42
Expected selling prices -3 52 52 45 32
Cash position (2) -14 - -19 - -17
Past workforce size 0 -9 -7 -8 -14
Expected workforce size -3 -6 -9 -12 -9
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 36 42 39 40 27
Trade and repair of motor vehicles
General business outlook -26 -27 -29 -26 -21
Recent sales -7 -3 -21 -13 -11
Expected sales -7 -3 -19 -10 -17
Ordering intentions -9 -1 -12 -14 -13
Stocks 11 0 2 4 0
Past selling prices (2) 5 - 34 - 25
Expected selling prices 7 31 36 20 19
Cash position (2) -21 - -17 - -18
Past workforce size -7 -2 -2 -2 -3
Expected workforce size -5 -3 -2 0 -9
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 44 48 49 47 44
  • (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 April 2023 in retail trade (including trade and repair of motor vehicles) has been revised upwards by one point (after rounding). This revision is mainly due to the inclusion of late responses from companies.

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 26 April and 22 May 2023.

Next issue: 22 June 2023 at 8:45 am

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