March 28 (SeeNews) - Company managers active in Romania's manufacturing and services sectors expect moderate growth of their business in the next three months, while strong growth is forecast in construction and relative stability in retail, the National Statistical Office (INS) said on Tuesday.
Managers of construction companies foresee growth of their economic activity in the next three months, with a positive balance of 19%, INS said in a monthly business sentiment survey. The balance is calculated as the difference between the percentage of respondents who expect positive developments and the percentage of those whose expectations are negative.
A total of 9,142 managers of Romania-based companies operating in construction, manufacturing, retail and services were interviewed in the survey.
Managers in the construction sector anticipate relative stability in the number of employees, as the respondents' answers show a negative balance of 4%. Prices of construction works are expected to grow strongly, with a positive balance of 41%.
The managers of companies operating in the manufacturing industry expect moderate growth of their production volumes, with a positive 13% balance, during the next three months. Regarding the number of employees, stability is expected, with a balance of 0%, while prices of industrial products are expected to grow strongly, with a positive balance of 23%.
Managers of retail companies expect relative stability of their economic activity over the next three months, with a positive balance of 3%. The volume of orders placed by trade units with suppliers of goods is also expected to be relatively stable, with a positive balance of 1%. Employers forecast moderate growth in the number of employees in the next three months, with a positive balance of 11%. The managers expect that retail prices will rise strongly, with a positive balance of 42%.
Demand for services is expected to register moderate growth in the next three months, showing a positive balance of 7%. Also, relative stability in the number of employees is forecast, with a positive balance of 2%. According to the interviewed managers in the sector, prices in services will grow in the following three months, the balance here being a positive 16%.
In February, managers expected relative stability of their business in construction, retail, and services, while moderated growth was projected in manufacturing, according to earlier INS data.