January 27 (SeeNews) - Company managers active in Romania's construction and retail sectors expect a moderate decline in their business in the next three months, while relative stability is forecast in manufacturing and services, the National Statistical Office (INS) said on Friday.
Managers of construction companies expect a drop in economic activity in the next three months, with a negative 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 a moderate drop in the number of employees, with a negative balance of 7%. Prices of construction works are expected to grow strongly, with a positive balance of 39%.
The managers of companies operating in the manufacturing industry expect relatively stable production volumes, with a flat 0% balance, during the next three months. Regarding the number of employees, stability is expected, with a flat balance of 0%, while prices of industrial products are expected to grow strongly, with a positive balance of 32%.
Managers of retail companies expect a moderate drop of their economic activity over the next three months, with a negative balance of 12%. The volume of orders placed by trade units to the suppliers of goods will maintain the same trend, with a negative balance of 9%. Employers forecast moderate growth in the number of employees in the next three months, with a positive balance of 15%. The managers expect that retail prices will rise strongly, with a balance of 46%.
Demand for services is expected to register relative stability in the next three months, showing a negative balance of 3%. Also, a relative stability in the number of employees is forecast, with a negative balance of 1%. According to the interviewed managers in the sector, prices in services will grow in the following three months, with the balance here being 24%.
A total of 9,142 managers of Romania-based companies operating in construction, manufacturing, retail and services were interviewed in the survey.
In December, managers expected relative stability of their business in services, manufacturing and retail, while decline was projected in construction, according to earlier INS data.