Informations Rapides · 20 September 2024 · n° 233

In September 2024, the business climate in wholesale trade has slightly recovered after a decline in July  Bimonthly survey of wholesaling - September 2024

According to the business managers surveyed in September 2024, the bimonthly business climate in wholesale trade has slightly recovered after a decline in July. At 95, the composite indicator has gained two points and has recovered its level of May 2024 but remains, for the eleventh two-month period in a row, below its long-term average (100). This improvement reflects in particular the increase of the balances of opinion concerning the received merchandise from abroad and the past sales.

In September 2024, the balance of opinion of wholesalers regarding the received merchandise from abroad has rebounded sharply and has reached its long-term average, for the first time since April 2022. This rebound can be seen mainly in the sub-sectors of the wholesale trade of food products and beverages, of information and communication equipment and in “other specialised wholesale trade”. The balance on the received merchandise, regardless of their origin, was almost stable below its long-term average.

The balance on the general business outlook has also rebounded sharply and has moved closer to its average.

The balance on the past sales has rebounded and has moved closer to its average, despite a new decline of the balance on the past sales abroad.

Finally, the balance on the ordering intentions and the one specific to the orderings from abroad were almost stable, below their long-term average.

In September 2024, the balances of opinion on the past and expected selling prices of wholesalers has fallen back sharply. Both of them have moved away from their long-term average.

The balance of opinion on the expected change in the workforce size has diminished again, continuing a decline almost uninterrupted since March 2022. As for the balance on its recent change, it has increased for the first time since March 2023. Both balances remain below their average.

The balance of opinion on the level of inventories has fallen back sharply and has moved away from its average. It has diminished the most in the sub-sectors of wholesale trade of raw agricultural products and live animals, of information and communication equipment and in “other specialised wholesale trade”.

Finally, the balance related to the cash position is stable, just below its long-term average.

The business climate in wholesale trade in July 2024 has been revised upwards by one point (after rounding). This revision is mainly due to the inclusion of late responses from companies.