April 24 (SeeNews) - Slovenia's economic sentiment index edged down by 0.7 of a percentage point month-on-month in April to 11.8, after increasing by 1.9 points in March, seasonally adjusted data from the country's statistical office showed on Monday.
On an annual comparison basis, the indicator was 6.1 percentage points higher in April, the data indicated. In April, the index was 14.2 percentage points above the long-term average.
In April, the services confidence indicator was 1 p.p. higher than in March. Compared to April last year, the index increased by 6 p.p. and was 18 p.p. above the long-term average. The confidence indicator has thus reached the highest value since September 2008.
The manufacturing confidence indicator was 3 percentage points (p.p.) lower than in March 2017. Compared to April last year, it increased by 1 p.p. and was 10 p.p. above the long-term average. The decrease at the monthly level was influenced primarily by more pessimistic expectations of managers in the manufacturing sector.
The retail trade confidence indicator was 12 p.p. lower than a month earlier in April, primarily due to a decrease in the sales indicator. Year-on-year, it increased by 3 p.p. and was 4 p.p. above the long-term average.
In April, the construction confidence indicator was 4 p.p. higher than in March. Compared to April 2016, it increased by 26 p.p. and was 29 p.p. above the long-term average. The confidence indicator has thus reached the highest value since July 2008. It was higher at the monthly level due to the increase in two indicators: the overall order books and the expected employment.