Insee
Informations Rapides · 19 October 2023 · n° 266
Informations rapidesIn October 2023, the business climate in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles has deteriorated Monthly survey of retailing - October 2023

In October 2023, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole has deteriorated. At 98, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost five points and has moved below its long-term average (100). This deterioration is the result of the decline of most of the balances of opinion, in particular those associated with the general business outlook of the sector and ordering intentions.

Informations rapides
No 266
Paru le :Paru le19/10/2023
Prochaine parution le : 25/04/2025 at 08:45 - April 2025

In October 2023, the business climate in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles as a whole has deteriorated. At 98, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost five points and has moved below its long-term average (100). This deterioration is the result of the decline of most of the balances of opinion, in particular those associated with the general business outlook of the sector and ordering intentions.

Composite indicator

Composite indicator
Business climate synthetic indicator
2023-10 98.0
2023-09 102.7
2023-08 105.0
2023-07 105.6
2023-06 101.7
2023-05 96.7
2023-04 100.0
2023-03 97.5
2023-02 100.1
2023-01 99.4
2022-12 98.7
2022-11 96.2
2022-10 97.5
2022-09 96.8
2022-08 99.1
2022-07 95.5
2022-06 94.5
2022-05 94.1
2022-04 91.1
2022-03 98.6
2022-02 105.7
2022-01 104.0
2021-12 106.8
2021-11 107.8
2021-10 106.5
2021-09 107.9
2021-08 110.0
2021-07 114.1
2021-06 116.3
2021-05 107.7
2021-04 91.7
2021-03 96.4
2021-02 89.3
2021-01 93.6
2020-12 93.5
2020-11 71.0
2020-10 98.0
2020-09 98.0
2020-08 96.8
2020-07 90.4
2020-06 86.7
2020-05 61.8
2020-04 58.3
2020-03 93.6
2020-02 107.2
2020-01 106.7
2019-12 108.7
2019-11 106.7
2019-10 106.5
2019-09 107.1
2019-08 103.3
2019-07 106.0
2019-06 104.8
2019-05 104.9
2019-04 107.8
2019-03 105.1
2019-02 103.5
2019-01 102.1
2018-12 100.2
2018-11 107.4
2018-10 107.5
2018-09 110.1
2018-08 116.0
2018-07 113.9
2018-06 113.7
2018-05 113.0
2018-04 113.6
2018-03 114.4
2018-02 116.9
2018-01 117.2
2017-12 116.6
2017-11 116.1
2017-10 116.6
2017-09 113.4
2017-08 111.1
2017-07 111.9
2017-06 111.2
2017-05 107.0
2017-04 105.7
2017-03 107.8
2017-02 107.5
2017-01 108.8
2016-12 108.2
2016-11 103.2
2016-10 102.0
2016-09 102.9
2016-08 104.6
2016-07 104.5
2016-06 104.0
2016-05 106.1
2016-04 103.0
2016-03 103.9
2016-02 102.5
2016-01 104.2
2015-12 101.6
2015-11 105.1
2015-10 108.3
2015-09 105.9
2015-08 106.6
2015-07 103.2
2015-06 104.2
2015-05 103.1
2015-04 103.1
2015-03 102.1
2015-02 102.0
2015-01 98.8
2014-12 94.4
2014-11 92.8
2014-10 89.3
2014-09 88.6
2014-08 90.6
2014-07 96.7
2014-06 94.7
2014-05 96.4
2014-04 96.5
2014-03 95.4
2014-02 94.7
2014-01 95.2
2013-12 94.0
2013-11 91.9
2013-10 95.4
2013-09 97.7
2013-08 93.4
2013-07 85.4
2013-06 85.1
2013-05 83.6
2013-04 84.5
2013-03 86.5
2013-02 89.6
2013-01 85.1
2012-12 88.0
2012-11 88.3
2012-10 87.5
2012-09 85.9
2012-08 91.0
2012-07 89.3
2012-06 93.1
2012-05 91.0
2012-04 96.0
2012-03 93.4
2012-02 90.7
2012-01 88.2
2011-12 92.9
2011-11 93.9
2011-10 94.7
2011-09 93.9
2011-08 98.2
2011-07 101.4
2011-06 102.0
2011-05 103.9
2011-04 103.1
2011-03 103.7
2011-02 106.4
2011-01 106.6
2010-12 107.8
2010-11 104.3
2010-10 107.4
2010-09 105.8
2010-08 106.1
2010-07 101.0
2010-06 101.0
2010-05 101.7
2010-04 103.1
2010-03 97.9
2010-02 98.7
2010-01 98.3
2009-12 96.6
2009-11 98.2
2009-10 92.7
2009-09 90.4
2009-08 87.4
2009-07 86.1
2009-06 79.8
2009-05 80.5
2009-04 75.8
2009-03 82.5
2009-02 78.7
2009-01 77.7
2008-12 76.5
2008-11 84.0
2008-10 80.7
2008-09 96.2
2008-08 93.0
2008-07 95.4
2008-06 99.4
2008-05 103.0
2008-04 103.4
2008-03 109.3
2008-02 108.5
2008-01 109.9
2007-12 114.3
2007-11 112.6
2007-10 111.3
2007-09 111.8
2007-08 115.0
2007-07 117.0
2007-06 120.4
2007-05 114.4
2007-04 113.1
2007-03 110.9
2007-02 112.2
2007-01 107.5
2006-12 108.2
2006-11 110.7
2006-10 111.5
2006-09 110.2
2006-08 109.5
2006-07 107.9
2006-06 107.5
2006-05 105.2
2006-04 103.4
2006-03 102.1
2006-02 102.5
2006-01 102.9
2005-12 103.9
2005-11 99.5
2005-10 101.5
2005-09 98.9
2005-08 97.7
2005-07 95.8
2005-06 97.8
2005-05 101.2
2005-04 103.5
2005-03 104.1
2005-02 103.6
2005-01 105.8

Composite indicator

  • Source: INSEE

The balance of opinion related to the general business outlook has diminished again

In October 2023, the balance of opinion on the general business outlook has diminished again but remains just above its long-term average. The balance associated with ordering intentions has also declined and has moved below its own. The balances on the expected and past sales have both diminished again for their part and stand respectively below and slightly above their average. Finally, fewer business managers consider that the evolution of their business situation is difficult to forecast compared to the previous month.

Concerning employment, the balances of opinion associated with the recent and expected changes in the workforce size have also diminished. Both of them have moved away from their long-term average.

The balance associated with the current level of stocks has sharply rebounded for its part and has moved away from its average. It has reached its highest level since January 2012.

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) July 23 Aug. 23 Sep. 23 Oct. 23
Business climate 100 106 105 103 98
General business outlook -27 -9 -13 -19 -26
Recent sales -7 -2 6 2 -6
Expected sales -3 -7 -4 -7 -12
Ordering intentions -8 -8 -8 -8 -11
Stocks 10 18 15 14 22
Past selling prices (2) -3 22 - 22 -
Expected selling prices 0 14 14 14 13
Cash position (2) -15 -17 - -24 -
Past workforce size -1 -5 -7 -8 -10
Expected workforce size -4 -5 -7 -7 -11
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 38 34 36 41 38
  • (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
2023-10 -11.3 -6.5
2023-09 -7.8 1.7
2023-08 -8.0 6.2
2023-07 -8.5 -1.9
2023-06 -8.8 -9.1
2023-05 -16.0 -5.8
2023-04 -11.3 -1.6
2023-03 -14.9 -5.7
2023-02 -10.4 -1.2
2023-01 -11.8 6.0
2022-12 -10.4 -1.4
2022-11 -15.4 2.1
2022-10 -8.7 -2.8
2022-09 -13.9 -4.9
2022-08 -7.4 -12.3
2022-07 -10.7 -20.4
2022-06 -12.6 -16.1
2022-05 -14.4 -12.9
2022-04 -18.7 -18.6
2022-03 -5.0 -12.4
2022-02 -3.1 -7.0
2022-01 -3.3 -4.7
2021-12 -1.6 -6.2
2021-11 -0.5 -11.0
2021-10 -3.8 -17.6
2021-09 -2.0 -11.2
2021-08 3.9 11.0
2021-07 2.6 0.3
2021-06 1.0 -2.0
2021-05 -7.2 -10.9
2021-04 -16.0 -7.4
2021-03 -8.5 -16.4
2021-02 -15.5 -14.1
2021-01 -13.4 -5.4
2020-12 -11.4 -21.8
2020-11 -37.0 7.4
2020-10 0.4 -2.1
2020-09 -6.3 6.2
2020-08 -3.9 -9.9
2020-07 -9.6 -42.0
2020-06 -13.8 -48.2
2020-05 -47.3 -56.4
2020-04 -56.4 -4.3
2020-03 -12.5 -4.4
2020-02 -0.6 1.6
2020-01 -2.8 11.1
2019-12 1.3 -1.5
2019-11 -1.0 -5.8
2019-10 -2.5 -6.3
2019-09 -3.7 0.5
2019-08 -7.8 -5.0
2019-07 -5.0 -3.7
2019-06 -7.6 -9.0
2019-05 -6.3 -10.9
2019-04 0.3 -12.9
2019-03 -2.4 -17.9
2019-02 -6.2 -10.0
2019-01 -6.4 -9.1
2018-12 -5.6 -9.1
2018-11 -0.6 -6.8
2018-10 -2.2 -8.1
2018-09 0.6 2.0
2018-08 13.4 0.3
2018-07 3.7 -2.1
2018-06 5.2 -8.7
2018-05 2.6 -6.9
2018-04 2.1 -9.7
2018-03 2.3 -8.2
2018-02 4.2 5.1
2018-01 6.3 1.9
2017-12 5.9 1.5
2017-11 7.7 -5.1
2017-10 9.3 -0.4
2017-09 2.3 -1.6
2017-08 -0.8 -1.0
2017-07 -1.4 5.5
2017-06 -1.0 -5.9
2017-05 -3.2 -5.5
2017-04 -3.5 -11.9
2017-03 0.2 -1.8
2017-02 -0.4 4.2
2017-01 1.5 1.0
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 prices has slightly declined

In October 2023, the balance of opinion on the expected selling prices has slightly declined. However, it still remains well above its long-term average.

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
2023-10 13.2
2023-09 14.4
2023-08 13.9
2023-07 14.4
2023-06 18.8
2023-05 26.8
2023-04 37.0
2023-03 46.7
2023-02 45.3
2023-01 41.2
2022-12 37.3
2022-11 38.2
2022-10 44.5
2022-09 40.9
2022-08 42.2
2022-07 40.3
2022-06 41.0
2022-05 41.3
2022-04 36.1
2022-03 37.5
2022-02 35.8
2022-01 26.1
2021-12 24.9
2021-11 26.2
2021-10 23.5
2021-09 15.1
2021-08 14.4
2021-07 13.4
2021-06 10.1
2021-05 3.7
2021-04 0.5
2021-03 1.7
2021-02 -0.2
2021-01 0.3
2020-12 -3.9
2020-11 -4.0
2020-10 2.9
2020-09 1.0
2020-08 -0.1
2020-07 -2.7
2020-06 -3.6
2020-05 -8.2
2020-04 -8.1
2020-03 -1.5
2020-02 2.1
2020-01 -0.2
2019-12 3.0
2019-11 1.5
2019-10 3.9
2019-09 1.8
2019-08 -1.0
2019-07 -1.2
2019-06 -3.3
2019-05 -0.5
2019-04 2.3
2019-03 0.9
2019-02 0.3
2019-01 -2.9
2018-12 4.1
2018-11 -1.3
2018-10 -0.6
2018-09 0.3
2018-08 -1.6
2018-07 0.7
2018-06 -3.3
2018-05 -2.0
2018-04 -3.0
2018-03 -3.4
2018-02 0.9
2018-01 -3.5
2017-12 -1.6
2017-11 1.4
2017-10 3.6
2017-09 -2.0
2017-08 -0.4
2017-07 -2.5
2017-06 -2.1
2017-05 -7.4
2017-04 -4.2
2017-03 -1.1
2017-02 -4.1
2017-01 0.2
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

Business managers are more pessimistic in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) than in trade and repair of motor vehicles

The balances of opinion on the past and expected sales have sharply declined in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) but are respectively stable and increasing in trade and repair of motor vehicles. The general business outlook is considered for its part more unfavourably compared to the previous month in both sub-sectors.

The balance on the employment outlook has sharply declined in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) while it has increased in trade and repair of motor vehicles.

Finally, the balance on the expected selling prices has increased again in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) and remains above its long-term average. Conversely, it has diminished sharply in trade and repair of motor vehicles and has moved below its own.

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) July 23 Aug. 23 Sep. 23 Oct. 23
Retail trade
General business outlook -28 -9 -11 -18 -25
Recent sales -6 5 13 3 -9
Expected sales -2 -4 -2 -5 -14
Ordering intentions -7 -10 -6 -7 -10
Stocks 10 20 13 16 21
Past selling prices (2) -5 24 - 29 -
Expected selling prices -2 15 13 15 19
Cash position (2) -14 -19 - -26 -
Past workforce size 0 -4 -7 -8 -11
Expected workforce size -4 -11 -9 -9 -15
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 36 32 34 40 37
Trade and repair of motor vehicles
General business outlook -25 -10 -18 -20 -26
Recent sales -8 -17 -9 -1 -1
Expected sales -7 -12 -10 -11 -7
Ordering intentions -9 -5 -13 -10 -15
Stocks 12 15 18 10 23
Past selling prices (2) 5 18 - 8 -
Expected selling prices 7 14 15 13 1
Cash position (2) -21 -12 - -18 -
Past workforce size -7 -9 -3 -6 -12
Expected workforce size -5 12 -2 -1 4
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 43 40 42 43 40
  • (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 September 2023 in retail trade and 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.

This survey is part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.

Company responses were collected between 26 September and 16 October 2023.

Next issue: 23 November 2023 at 8:45 am.

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