Insee
Informations Rapides · 21 March 2025 · n° 71
Informations rapidesIn March 2025, the business climate has brightened in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles Monthly survey of retailing - March 2025

In March 2025, the business climate has brightened in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles overall. At 100, the indicator that synthesizes it has gained three points and has reached its long-term average (100). This improvement is mainly due to the increase in the balances related to the general business outlook and the ordering intentions.

Informations rapides
No 71
Paru le :Paru le21/03/2025
Prochaine parution le : 22/08/2025 at 08:45 - August 2025

In March 2025, the business climate has brightened in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles overall. At 100, the indicator that synthesizes it has gained three points and has reached its long-term average (100). This improvement is mainly due to the increase in the balances related to the general business outlook and the ordering intentions.

Composite indicator

Composite indicator
Business climate synthetic indicator
2025-03 100.1
2025-02 97.1
2025-01 96.8
2024-12 96.6
2024-11 98.4
2024-10 99.2
2024-09 100.1
2024-08 97.3
2024-07 94.1
2024-06 99.4
2024-05 100.9
2024-04 102.1
2024-03 101.3
2024-02 100.5
2024-01 104.1
2023-12 99.9
2023-11 97.1
2023-10 98.4
2023-09 102.7
2023-08 103.2
2023-07 104.4
2023-06 101.3
2023-05 98.0
2023-04 100.6
2023-03 98.0
2023-02 101.3
2023-01 99.8
2022-12 99.4
2022-11 96.8
2022-10 98.0
2022-09 96.5
2022-08 97.6
2022-07 94.5
2022-06 94.1
2022-05 95.4
2022-04 91.3
2022-03 99.6
2022-02 107.1
2022-01 104.7
2021-12 107.7
2021-11 109.1
2021-10 106.8
2021-09 108.1
2021-08 108.8
2021-07 114.1
2021-06 115.6
2021-05 108.2
2021-04 91.8
2021-03 96.6
2021-02 89.9
2021-01 94.0
2020-12 93.7
2020-11 70.5
2020-10 98.4
2020-09 98.1
2020-08 94.5
2020-07 90.0
2020-06 85.4
2020-05 60.6
2020-04 57.6
2020-03 93.2
2020-02 107.6
2020-01 106.8
2019-12 109.2
2019-11 107.0
2019-10 106.7
2019-09 107.3
2019-08 100.4
2019-07 106.6
2019-06 104.0
2019-05 105.2
2019-04 108.4
2019-03 104.6
2019-02 103.3
2019-01 101.5
2018-12 99.7
2018-11 107.2
2018-10 107.3
2018-09 110.4
2018-08 113.8
2018-07 114.8
2018-06 113.4
2018-05 113.6
2018-04 113.9
2018-03 114.1
2018-02 117.0
2018-01 117.0
2017-12 116.7
2017-11 116.4
2017-10 117.2
2017-09 113.7
2017-08 111.4
2017-07 112.2
2017-06 111.4
2017-05 107.2
2017-04 105.9
2017-03 108.2
2017-02 108.0
2017-01 109.3
2016-12 108.6
2016-11 103.2
2016-10 102.0
2016-09 103.0
2016-08 104.9
2016-07 104.7
2016-06 104.2
2016-05 106.4
2016-04 103.1
2016-03 104.1
2016-02 102.7
2016-01 104.4
2015-12 101.7
2015-11 105.4
2015-10 108.7
2015-09 106.3
2015-08 107.0
2015-07 103.4
2015-06 104.6
2015-05 103.4
2015-04 103.5
2015-03 102.5
2015-02 102.4
2015-01 99.1
2014-12 94.4
2014-11 92.8
2014-10 89.1
2014-09 88.3
2014-08 90.4
2014-07 96.8
2014-06 94.6
2014-05 96.4
2014-04 96.5
2014-03 95.4
2014-02 94.6
2014-01 95.2
2013-12 93.9
2013-11 92.0
2013-10 95.3
2013-09 97.8
2013-08 93.4
2013-07 85.0
2013-06 84.9
2013-05 83.2
2013-04 84.3
2013-03 86.3
2013-02 89.6
2013-01 84.6
2012-12 87.8
2012-11 88.1
2012-10 87.2
2012-09 85.6
2012-08 91.0
2012-07 89.2
2012-06 93.1
2012-05 90.8
2012-04 96.0
2012-03 93.2
2012-02 90.6
2012-01 88.0
2011-12 92.9
2011-11 93.9
2011-10 94.6
2011-09 93.9
2011-08 98.3
2011-07 101.3
2011-06 102.0
2011-05 104.1
2011-04 103.3
2011-03 103.9
2011-02 106.8
2011-01 107.0
2010-12 108.2
2010-11 104.5
2010-10 107.9
2010-09 106.2
2010-08 106.5
2010-07 101.2
2010-06 101.3
2010-05 101.9
2010-04 103.4
2010-03 97.8
2010-02 98.7
2010-01 98.2
2009-12 96.5
2009-11 98.3
2009-10 92.6
2009-09 90.3
2009-08 87.3
2009-07 85.9
2009-06 79.2
2009-05 80.2
2009-04 75.0
2009-03 82.5
2009-02 78.0
2009-01 77.1
2008-12 75.8
2008-11 84.1
2008-10 80.3
2008-09 96.7
2008-08 93.0
2008-07 95.4
2008-06 99.7
2008-05 103.5
2008-04 103.7
2008-03 110.1
2008-02 109.2
2008-01 110.5
2007-12 115.1
2007-11 113.0
2007-10 111.7
2007-09 112.1
2007-08 115.6
2007-07 117.7
2007-06 121.1
2007-05 115.0
2007-04 113.7
2007-03 111.4
2007-02 112.9
2007-01 107.9
2006-12 108.6
2006-11 111.1
2006-10 112.0
2006-09 110.5
2006-08 109.9
2006-07 108.3
2006-06 107.8
2006-05 105.5
2006-04 103.7
2006-03 102.3
2006-02 102.8
2006-01 103.2
2005-12 104.3
2005-11 99.7
2005-10 101.9
2005-09 99.3
2005-08 97.9
2005-07 95.9
2005-06 98.0
2005-05 101.4
2005-04 103.8
2005-03 104.4
2005-02 103.8
2005-01 106.2

Composite indicator

  • Source: INSEE.

The balance of opinion related to the general business outlook has sharply rebounded

In March 2025, the balance related to the general business outlook has sharply rebounded and has left its long-term average. The balance on the ordering intentions has increased again and has moved above its own. The balance on the past sales has sharply rebounded and has moved closer to its long-term average. The one on the expected sales has increased again and has also moved closer to its own.

The balance of opinion associated with the expected change in the workforce size has retreated and has moved away from its long-term average, while the one on their past change is stable below its own.

The balance associated with the current level of stocks has slightly rebounded and has moved away from its average.

The bimonthly balance on the cash position has sharply diminished and has moved away from its long-term average.

The balance of opinion on the expected selling prices has rebounded and the one on the past selling prices has increased for the third two-month period in a row. Both have moved away from their average.

Lastly, the balance on the felt economic uncertainty has increased again a little.

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) Dec. 24 Jan. 25 Feb. 25 Mar. 25
Business climate 100 97 97 97 100
General business outlook -27 -27 -26 -27 -23
Recent sales -9 -14 -8 -21 -14
Expected sales -4 -7 -11 -9 -7
Ordering intentions -9 -11 -13 -10 -7
Stocks 10 15 15 13 15
Past selling prices (2) -3 - -2 - 2
Expected selling prices 0 -3 2 0 4
Cash position (2) -15 - -19 - -23
Past workforce size -1 -6 -8 -9 -9
Expected workforce size -4 -14 -10 -8 -11
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 37 37 32 33 34
  • (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
2025-03 -6.7 -14.4
2025-02 -10.1 -20.5
2025-01 -13.5 -8.1
2024-12 -10.8 -14.1
2024-11 -12.7 -7.3
2024-10 -10.1 -12.6
2024-09 -11.3 -9.3
2024-08 -11.9 -15.1
2024-07 -15.4 -18.2
2024-06 -8.6 -15.3
2024-05 -9.2 -10.4
2024-04 -8.1 -5.3
2024-03 -8.4 -9.8
2024-02 -7.6 -13.5
2024-01 -6.4 -0.9
2023-12 -12.4 -11.9
2023-11 -14.8 -14.5
2023-10 -12.4 -5.4
2023-09 -8.3 1.0
2023-08 -10.9 6.0
2023-07 -8.5 -1.3
2023-06 -8.8 -8.1
2023-05 -13.6 -5.6
2023-04 -10.3 -1.1
2023-03 -14.5 -4.6
2023-02 -9.1 -1.4
2023-01 -12.0 5.9
2022-12 -9.5 -0.7
2022-11 -15.4 2.0
2022-10 -9.9 -3.1
2022-09 -14.6 -5.6
2022-08 -10.5 -12.7
2022-07 -10.6 -20.3
2022-06 -13.0 -15.6
2022-05 -12.4 -13.0
2022-04 -17.8 -18.4
2022-03 -4.6 -11.3
2022-02 -2.0 -7.3
2022-01 -3.5 -5.0
2021-12 -1.1 -5.7
2021-11 -0.5 -11.3
2021-10 -5.1 -18.1
2021-09 -2.5 -11.8
2021-08 0.0 10.7
2021-07 3.5 0.5
2021-06 0.8 -1.5
2021-05 -5.1 -10.8
2021-04 -14.3 -7.1
2021-03 -8.1 -15.3
2021-02 -14.5 -14.3
2021-01 -13.5 -5.4
2020-12 -11.1 -21.4
2020-11 -36.8 7.6
2020-10 -0.5 -2.6
2020-09 -6.2 6.0
2020-08 -8.5 -10.2
2020-07 -7.8 -41.8
2020-06 -13.6 -47.8
2020-05 -44.9 -56.3
2020-04 -54.6 -3.9
2020-03 -12.4 -3.6
2020-02 -0.1 1.3
2020-01 -3.2 10.8
2019-12 1.2 -1.4
2019-11 -1.2 -5.8
2019-10 -3.2 -6.6
2019-09 -3.0 0.4
2019-08 -13.3 -5.2
2019-07 -2.6 -3.7
2019-06 -7.6 -9.1
2019-05 -4.4 -10.9
2019-04 2.3 -12.9
2019-03 -2.7 -17.4
2019-02 -5.9 -10.3
2019-01 -7.0 -9.4
2018-12 -6.0 -8.9
2018-11 -0.9 -6.7
2018-10 -2.4 -8.3
2018-09 1.9 1.9
2018-08 7.7 0.3
2018-07 6.6 -2.1
2018-06 5.6 -8.7
2018-05 4.4 -6.8
2018-04 3.8 -9.9
2018-03 1.8 -7.9
2018-02 4.2 4.7
2018-01 5.5 1.6
2017-12 5.4 1.5
2017-11 7.6 -4.9
2017-10 9.8 -0.5
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 general business outlook has sharply recovered in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

In March 2025, the balance associated with the general business outlook has sharply rebounded in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) and has moved away from its average. In trade and repair of motor vehicles, it has increased again sharply and has reached its own.

The balance associated with the ordering intentions has increased again in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) where it has moved away from its long-term average, and it has rebounded in trade and repair of motor vehicles where it has moved closer to its own.

The balances associated with the expected change in the workforce size have retreated in both sub-sectors: the one in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) has moved away from its average, while the one in trade and repair of motor vehicles has moved below its own. The balance on the past change in the workforce size has rebounded in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) where it has moved closer to its average, whereas it has strongly retreated in trade and repair of motor vehicles and it has reached its own.

The balance of opinion on the expected prices has sharply increased in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) where it has moved away from its average, while it is stable in trade and repair of motor vehicles, 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) Dec. 24 Jan. 25 Feb. 25 Mar. 25
Retail trade
General business outlook -28 -24 -24 -27 -22
Recent sales -8 -13 1 -18 -14
Expected sales -2 2 -8 -7 -2
Ordering intentions -9 -4 -12 -5 -2
Stocks 10 11 14 11 13
Past selling prices (2) -5 - -3 - 6
Expected selling prices -2 1 5 4 10
Cash position (2) -14 - -20 - -24
Past workforce size 0 -6 -9 -12 -9
Expected workforce size -4 -16 -12 -9 -12
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 35 36 32 33 35
Trade and repair of motor vehicles
General business outlook -25 -38 -32 -29 -25
Recent sales -9 -16 -26 -25 -16
Expected sales -8 -22 -18 -15 -18
Ordering intentions -11 -23 -17 -20 -17
Stocks 12 23 19 18 19
Past selling prices (2) 4 - -1 - -4
Expected selling prices 6 -10 -4 -8 -8
Cash position (2) -21 - -16 - -22
Past workforce size -7 -5 -5 0 -7
Expected workforce size -5 -8 -5 -4 -6
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 41 38 31 32 34
  • (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 February 2025 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 66% of retail trade and for 34% 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.

The responses of this survey were collected between 25 February and 18 March 2025; most companies answer during the first two weeks of collection.

Next issue: 25 April 2025 at 8:45 am.

Pour en savoir plus

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