Informations Rapides ·
21 August 2026 · n° 201
In August 2026, the business climate in services has slightly brightened again Monthly survey of services - August 2026
According to the business managers surveyed in August 2026, the business climate in services has slightly brightened again. At 100, the indicator that synthesises it has gained one point and has reached its long-term average.
According to the business managers surveyed in August 2026, the business climate in services has slightly brightened again. At 100, the indicator that synthesises it has gained one point and has reached its long-term average.
tableauFrench business climate composite indicator
| French business climate composite indicator | |
|---|---|
| 2026-08 | 99.8 |
| 2026-07 | 99.0 |
| 2026-06 | 96.2 |
| 2026-05 | 95.3 |
| 2026-04 | 95.7 |
| 2026-03 | 98.1 |
| 2026-02 | 99.0 |
| 2026-01 | 99.2 |
| 2025-12 | 97.9 |
| 2025-11 | 98.0 |
| 2025-10 | 96.1 |
| 2025-09 | 97.9 |
| 2025-08 | 96.4 |
| 2025-07 | 96.7 |
| 2025-06 | 95.4 |
| 2025-05 | 95.0 |
| 2025-04 | 98.3 |
| 2025-03 | 97.0 |
| 2025-02 | 97.3 |
| 2025-01 | 95.8 |
| 2024-12 | 96.2 |
| 2024-11 | 97.6 |
| 2024-10 | 101.0 |
| 2024-09 | 98.3 |
| 2024-08 | 98.3 |
| 2024-07 | 96.1 |
| 2024-06 | 101.7 |
| 2024-05 | 103.1 |
| 2024-04 | 100.6 |
| 2024-03 | 102.3 |
| 2024-02 | 99.6 |
| 2024-01 | 101.3 |
| 2023-12 | 100.4 |
| 2023-11 | 99.5 |
| 2023-10 | 100.4 |
| 2023-09 | 100.5 |
| 2023-08 | 102.1 |
| 2023-07 | 102.4 |
| 2023-06 | 102.3 |
| 2023-05 | 102.0 |
| 2023-04 | 103.8 |
| 2023-03 | 103.7 |
| 2023-02 | 105.3 |
| 2023-01 | 104.6 |
| 2022-12 | 104.3 |
| 2022-11 | 104.0 |
| 2022-10 | 105.5 |
| 2022-09 | 105.4 |
| 2022-08 | 106.8 |
| 2022-07 | 106.1 |
| 2022-06 | 107.2 |
| 2022-05 | 109.2 |
| 2022-04 | 109.0 |
| 2022-03 | 108.5 |
| 2022-02 | 112.0 |
| 2022-01 | 105.3 |
| 2021-12 | 107.8 |
| 2021-11 | 114.6 |
| 2021-10 | 113.6 |
| 2021-09 | 110.2 |
| 2021-08 | 109.0 |
| 2021-07 | 111.0 |
| 2021-06 | 112.8 |
| 2021-05 | 107.2 |
| 2021-04 | 91.6 |
| 2021-03 | 93.2 |
| 2021-02 | 86.7 |
| 2021-01 | 90.6 |
| 2020-12 | 89.1 |
| 2020-11 | 74.8 |
| 2020-10 | 87.0 |
| 2020-09 | 93.2 |
| 2020-08 | 93.3 |
| 2020-07 | 88.2 |
| 2020-06 | 76.9 |
| 2020-05 | 47.6 |
| 2020-04 | 36.4 |
| 2020-03 | 91.8 |
| 2020-02 | 105.7 |
| 2020-01 | 106.3 |
| 2019-12 | 107.0 |
| 2019-11 | 106.4 |
| 2019-10 | 105.7 |
| 2019-09 | 105.6 |
| 2019-08 | 105.3 |
| 2019-07 | 104.9 |
| 2019-06 | 105.9 |
| 2019-05 | 106.4 |
| 2019-04 | 106.5 |
| 2019-03 | 105.2 |
| 2019-02 | 103.6 |
| 2019-01 | 103.7 |
| 2018-12 | 102.2 |
| 2018-11 | 103.9 |
| 2018-10 | 103.4 |
| 2018-09 | 104.6 |
| 2018-08 | 104.3 |
| 2018-07 | 104.8 |
| 2018-06 | 104.7 |
| 2018-05 | 104.7 |
| 2018-04 | 106.7 |
| 2018-03 | 107.3 |
| 2018-02 | 106.8 |
| 2018-01 | 107.6 |
| 2017-12 | 109.2 |
| 2017-11 | 107.7 |
| 2017-10 | 107.0 |
| 2017-09 | 106.7 |
| 2017-08 | 106.7 |
| 2017-07 | 104.1 |
| 2017-06 | 103.3 |
| 2017-05 | 102.9 |
| 2017-04 | 103.6 |
| 2017-03 | 103.3 |
| 2017-02 | 102.9 |
| 2017-01 | 101.5 |
| 2016-12 | 103.9 |
| 2016-11 | 101.0 |
| 2016-10 | 100.9 |
| 2016-09 | 100.9 |
| 2016-08 | 100.2 |
| 2016-07 | 100.5 |
| 2016-06 | 99.2 |
| 2016-05 | 101.0 |
| 2016-04 | 98.3 |
| 2016-03 | 99.7 |
| 2016-02 | 100.1 |
| 2016-01 | 100.2 |
| 2015-12 | 97.1 |
| 2015-11 | 99.3 |
| 2015-10 | 99.6 |
| 2015-09 | 97.6 |
| 2015-08 | 98.7 |
| 2015-07 | 97.6 |
| 2015-06 | 97.0 |
| 2015-05 | 95.4 |
| 2015-04 | 93.9 |
| 2015-03 | 92.3 |
| 2015-02 | 91.3 |
| 2015-01 | 91.0 |
| 2014-12 | 91.2 |
| 2014-11 | 91.0 |
| 2014-10 | 91.1 |
| 2014-09 | 90.8 |
| 2014-08 | 91.4 |
| 2014-07 | 92.4 |
| 2014-06 | 92.1 |
| 2014-05 | 92.0 |
| 2014-04 | 93.1 |
| 2014-03 | 93.0 |
| 2014-02 | 92.0 |
| 2014-01 | 92.1 |
| 2013-12 | 90.6 |
| 2013-11 | 92.3 |
| 2013-10 | 91.6 |
| 2013-09 | 92.3 |
| 2013-08 | 88.4 |
| 2013-07 | 86.2 |
| 2013-06 | 85.7 |
| 2013-05 | 84.5 |
| 2013-04 | 83.0 |
| 2013-03 | 83.8 |
| 2013-02 | 87.0 |
| 2013-01 | 88.1 |
| 2012-12 | 86.8 |
| 2012-11 | 85.1 |
| 2012-10 | 85.9 |
| 2012-09 | 87.1 |
| 2012-08 | 87.0 |
| 2012-07 | 89.4 |
| 2012-06 | 89.8 |
| 2012-05 | 91.9 |
| 2012-04 | 95.6 |
| 2012-03 | 93.1 |
| 2012-02 | 91.7 |
| 2012-01 | 92.3 |
| 2011-12 | 94.6 |
| 2011-11 | 95.1 |
| 2011-10 | 97.4 |
| 2011-09 | 98.3 |
| 2011-08 | 100.6 |
| 2011-07 | 105.2 |
| 2011-06 | 107.7 |
| 2011-05 | 108.0 |
| 2011-04 | 109.6 |
| 2011-03 | 111.2 |
| 2011-02 | 109.8 |
| 2011-01 | 107.6 |
| 2010-12 | 107.4 |
| 2010-11 | 105.1 |
| 2010-10 | 103.0 |
| 2010-09 | 101.8 |
| 2010-08 | 100.8 |
| 2010-07 | 99.2 |
| 2010-06 | 98.4 |
| 2010-05 | 99.6 |
| 2010-04 | 98.0 |
| 2010-03 | 94.5 |
| 2010-02 | 94.2 |
| 2010-01 | 94.0 |
| 2009-12 | 92.6 |
| 2009-11 | 92.2 |
| 2009-10 | 90.7 |
| 2009-09 | 87.4 |
| 2009-08 | 83.8 |
| 2009-07 | 81.3 |
| 2009-06 | 77.2 |
| 2009-05 | 72.2 |
| 2009-04 | 67.8 |
| 2009-03 | 67.6 |
| 2009-02 | 72.9 |
| 2009-01 | 74.2 |
| 2008-12 | 77.0 |
| 2008-11 | 80.1 |
| 2008-10 | 84.2 |
| 2008-09 | 93.2 |
| 2008-08 | 95.1 |
| 2008-07 | 96.7 |
| 2008-06 | 101.5 |
| 2008-05 | 104.8 |
| 2008-04 | 107.3 |
| 2008-03 | 109.1 |
| 2008-02 | 109.1 |
| 2008-01 | 111.2 |
| 2007-12 | 109.5 |
| 2007-11 | 110.9 |
| 2007-10 | 110.7 |
| 2007-09 | 112.2 |
| 2007-08 | 113.1 |
| 2007-07 | 114.0 |
| 2007-06 | 113.3 |
| 2007-05 | 113.5 |
| 2007-04 | 113.7 |
| 2007-03 | 114.2 |
| 2007-02 | 113.3 |
| 2007-01 | 111.6 |
| 2006-12 | 112.2 |
| 2006-11 | 114.1 |
| 2006-10 | 111.6 |
| 2006-09 | 111.5 |
| 2006-08 | 111.3 |
| 2006-07 | 111.2 |
| 2006-06 | 110.0 |
| 2006-05 | 111.6 |
| 2006-04 | 108.6 |
| 2006-03 | 108.3 |
| 2006-02 | 107.0 |
| 2006-01 | 109.6 |
graphiqueFrench business climate composite indicator
- Source: INSEE – monthly business survey in services.
The business managers in services are more optimistic than in the previous month about their personal business outlook, but less optimistic about that for their sector
In August 2026, the business managers in services are more optimistic than in the previous month about their personal business outlook: the associated balances of opinion on expected demand and on expected activity have increased. Both have risen for the second month in a row and stand above their long-term average, whereas the balance on the business outlook for the sector has retreated and has moved away from its own. At the same time, the balance on past activity has rebounded but remains below its average level.
The balance of opinion on expected change in the workforce size has sharply rebounded and has reached its average, whereas the one on their past change is virtually stable, clearly below its own.
The balances related to both past and expected change in selling prices have slightly retreated, always above their average.
The balance on the economic uncertainty felt has rebounded, moving away from its average.
tableauEconomic outlook in the services sector
| Average* | May 2026 | June 2026 | July 2026 | Aug. 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite indicator | 100 | 95 | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| General outlook | -7 | -16 | -13 | -8 | -10 |
| Past activity | 1 | -4 | -4 | -6 | -4 |
| Expected activity | 1 | -2 | -1 | 2 | 3 |
| Expected demand | -1 | -3 | -4 | -1 | 2 |
| Past selling prices | -2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Expected selling prices | -1 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Past employment | 1 | -11 | -10 | -11 | -10 |
| Past employment except temporary work agencies | 0 | -13 | -9 | -7 | -9 |
| Expected employment | 2 | -6 | -2 | -5 | 2 |
| Expected employment except temporary work agencies | -1 | -6 | 0 | -2 | -1 |
| Economic uncertainty felt** | 12 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 |
- * Average since 1989 for the composite indicator and since 1988 for the balances of opinion, except general outlook (June 2000) and uncertainty (April 2021).
- ** Balance of opinion not seasonally adjusted ;
- Source: INSEE, monthly business survey in services.
The business climate in administrative and support services has clearly brightened
In August 2026, the business climate indicator in information-communication is virtually stable for the third month in a row, below its long-term average. The sharp rise in the balance on expected demand has been offset by the decrease in those on past workforce size and on the business outlook for the sector; all stand below their respective average.
In professional, scientific and technical activities, the business climate has darkened and has moved below its long-term average. The forward-looking balances on demand and on activity have sharply diminished and have moved below their average.
In administrative and support services, the business climate indicator has sharply risen and has reached its long-term average. The forward-looking balances on workforce size, on demand and on activity have sharply increased: they have reached or have moved away from their average.
In accommodation and food services, the business climate has brightened again and has moved away from its average. In particular, the balances on the business outlook for the sector and on past workforce size have sharply improved.
Finally, the business climate indicator in road freight transport has retreated and has moved back below its average level. This fall is mainly due to the sharp downturn in the forward-looking balances on demand, on the business outlook for the sector and on activity, which all stand below their average.
tableauBusiness climate composite indicator and balances of opinion by sub-sector in services
| Nomenclature agrégée (NA 2008) au niveau « A21 »** | Average* | May 2026 | June 2026 | July 2026 | Aug. 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road transport (8%) | |||||
| Composite indicator | 100 | 94 | 94 | 100 | 98 |
| General outlook | -19 | -35 | -28 | -18 | -23 |
| Past activity | -6 | -13 | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Expected activity | -7 | -16 | -15 | -12 | -15 |
| Expected demand | -10 | -17 | -26 | -11 | -18 |
| Past employment | -6 | -13 | -17 | -11 | -2 |
| Expected employment | -7 | -19 | -14 | -8 | -4 |
| Accommodation and food service activities (11%) | |||||
| Composite indicator | 100 | 95 | 94 | 100 | 102 |
| General outlook | -13 | -30 | -24 | -19 | -11 |
| Past activity | -7 | -18 | -12 | -6 | -3 |
| Expected activity | -8 | -9 | -23 | -1 | 2 |
| Expected demand | -9 | -10 | -17 | -7 | -14 |
| Past employment | -5 | -11 | -15 | -8 | -1 |
| Expected employment | -5 | -5 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| Information and communication (27%) | |||||
| Climat des affaires | 100 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 96 |
| Perspectives générales | 0 | -4 | -4 | 2 | -2 |
| Activité passée | 8 | 4 | -4 | -3 | -7 |
| Activité prévue | 9 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 7 |
| Demande prévue | 9 | 5 | 1 | -2 | 7 |
| Effectifs passés | 6 | 0 | 2 | -3 | -4 |
| Effectifs prévus | 10 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities (24%) | |||||
| Composite indicator | 100 | 98 | 99 | 101 | 97 |
| General outlook | -8 | -12 | -12 | -8 | -10 |
| Past activity | -2 | -2 | -3 | -6 | -4 |
| Expected activity | -3 | -4 | 0 | 1 | -5 |
| Expected demand | -6 | -7 | -6 | -4 | -9 |
| Past employment | 0 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -4 |
| Expected employment | 0 | -5 | -2 | -3 | -4 |
| Administrative and support service activities (19%) | |||||
| Composite indicator | 100 | 86 | 87 | 93 | 100 |
| General outlook | -3 | -17 | -14 | -7 | -4 |
| Past activity | 5 | -4 | -7 | -8 | -5 |
| Expected activity | 4 | -14 | -13 | -4 | 4 |
| Expected demand | 2 | -15 | -15 | -7 | 3 |
| Past employment | 6 | -11 | -15 | -18 | -17 |
| Expected employment | 5 | -9 | -10 | -17 | 7 |
- The figures in parentheses indicate the weights used to aggregate the sub-sector balances of opinion. The “other services” sub-sector is not displayed due to its low weight.
- *Composite indicator: average since 1989 (2006 for road transport); balances of opinion: average since 1988, except general outlook since June 2000 (2006 for road transport).
- ** The balances related to real estate activities are not been published due to work of back-cast (cf. Warning in July).
- Source: INSEE, monthly business survey in services.
Revision
The business climate indicator in services of July 2026 has been revised upwards by one point (after rounding). This revision is mainly due to the inclusion of late responses from businesses.
For further information
The composite indicators of business climate presented here are estimated independently of one another. Thus, that of the whole services cannot be deduced from the others. The same balances of opinion are included into their calculations, but they are not assigned the same weightings. Also, the indicators are scaled to have a long-run average of 100 and a standard deviation of 10. The climate series do not have the same historical beginning, so their standardisation differs slightly. Discrepancies may therefore appear from time to time.
For the three-modality questions, a balance of opinion is calculated as the difference between the weighted percentage of “increase” responses and the weighted percentage of “decrease” responses.
This survey is part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.
The responses to this survey were collected between 27 July and 18 August 2026; most companies answer during the first two weeks of collection.
Additional information (simplified and detailed methodology, nomenclature, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab of the web page of this publication.
Next issue: 24 September 2026 at 8:45 am.
Documentation
Changes to business tendency surveys – October 2021 (pdf,181 Ko)
Abbreviated methodology (in French) (pdf,193 Ko)
Pour en savoir plus
The composite indicators of business climate presented here are estimated independently of one another. Thus, that of the whole services cannot be deduced from the others. The same balances of opinion are included into their calculations, but they are not assigned the same weightings. Also, the indicators are scaled to have a long-run average of 100 and a standard deviation of 10. The climate series do not have the same historical beginning, so their standardisation differs slightly. Discrepancies may therefore appear from time to time.
For the three-modality questions, a balance of opinion is calculated as the difference between the weighted percentage of “increase” responses and the weighted percentage of “decrease” responses.
This survey is part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.
The responses to this survey were collected between 27 July and 18 August 2026; most companies answer during the first two weeks of collection.
Additional information (simplified and detailed methodology, nomenclature, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab of the web page of this publication.
Next issue: 24 September 2026 at 8:45 am.