February 28 (SeeNews) - Company managers active in Romania's construction and manufacturing sectors expect moderate growth in production volumes in the next three months, while relative stability is forecast in retail and services, the National Statistical Office (INS) said on Wednesday.
Managers of construction companies expect an increase in economic activity in the next three months, with a positive balance of 9%, 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.
Managers in the construction sector anticipate relative stability in the number of employees, with a negative balance of 1%. Prices of construction works are expected to grow strongly, with a positive balance of 32%.
The managers of companies operating in manufacturing expect moderate growth in production volumes, with a positive balance of 6%, during the next three months. Employment numbers are seen to be marked by relative stability, as reflected in a marginally negative balance of 1%. Prices of industrial products are expected to grow, with a positive balance of 18%.
Managers of retail companies expect stability in economic activity in the next three months, with a positive balance of 5%. The volume of orders placed by trade units to the suppliers of goods is expected to increase moderately, with a positive balance of 12%. Employers also forecast moderate growth in the number of employees over the next three months, with a positive balance of 15%. Managers expect that retail prices will rise sharply, with a balance of 40%.
Demand for services is expected to register relative stability in the next three months, showing a positive balance of 4%. Also, relative stability in the number of employees is anticipated, with a positive balance of 1%. According to the interviewed managers in the sector, prices in services will grow moderately in the following three months, with the balance here being 14%.
A total of 8,961 managers of Romania-based companies operating in construction, manufacturing, retail and services were interviewed in the survey.
In January, managers expected a decline in economic activity in the construction sector, while relative stability was forecast for the manufacturing, retail and service sectors.