January 28 (SeeNews) - Company managers in Romanian construction and retail sectors expect a drop in their business in the next three months, while a relative stability is forecast in manufacturing and services, the National Statistical Office (INS) said on Friday.
Construction companies expect a moderate drop in their production volumes in the next three months, with a negative balance of 6%, INS said in a monthly business sentiment survey.
You can download the 2023 Automotive industry in Southeast Europe report here
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.
The 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 49%.
Managers of retail companies expect a drop in economic activity in the next three months, with a negative balance of 12%. The volume of orders placed by trade units to the suppliers of goods will is expected to be lower, with a negative balance of 7%. Employers forecast a moderate growth in the number of employees in the next three months, with a positive balance of 12%. The managers expect that retail prices will rise, with a balance of 39%.
The managers of companies operating in the manufacturing industry expect a relative stability in production volumes, with a positive 1% balance, during the next three months.
A strong increase is expected in manufacturing of coke and refined petroleum products, with a positive balance of 62%. Regarding the number of employees, stability is expected, with a positive balance of 4%, while prices of industrial products are expected to grow, with a positive balance of 39%.
Demand for services is expected to be stable in the next three months, showing a positive balance of 2%, according to the survey. Also, a relative stability in the number of employees is forecast, with a negative balance of 2%. Most of the interviewed managers in the sector expect that prices in services will grow in the following three months, with the balance here being 23%.
A total of 8,987 managers of Romania-based companies operating in construction, manufacturing, retail and services were interviewed in the survey.
In December, business sentiment was negative in construction and stable in retail, services and manufacturing, according to earlier INS data.
(1 euro=4.9453 lei)