Romania’s July business sentiment positive in all sectors – INS survey

Most company managers in Romania expect growth in manufacturing, retail, construction and business services in the next three months, the National Statistical Office (INS) said recently.

The managers of companies operating in the manufacturing industry expect a moderate increase production volumes, with a positive 6% balance, during the next three months, 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 strong increase is expected in beverages manufacturing, with a positive balance of 33%. Regarding the number of employees, stability is expected, with a positive balance of 2%, while prices of industrial products are expected to grow, with a positive balance of 21%.

Demand for services is expected to increase in the next three months, showing a balance of 16%. For the services sector, a moderate increase in the number of employees is forecast, with a balance of 6%. According to the interviewed managers in the sector, prices in services will grow moderately in the following three months, with the balance here being12%.

Construction companies expect growth in the production volumes of their business in the next three months, with a positive balance of 19%. The managers in the construction sector anticipate stability in the number of employees, with a positive balance of 4%. Prices of construction works are expected to grow strongly, with a positive balance of 38%.

Managers of retail companies expect a rise in economic activity in the next three months, with a positive balance of 21%. The volume of orders placed by trade units to the suppliers of goods will grow moderately, with a positive balance of 10%. Employers forecast a relative stability in the number of employees in the next three months, with a positive balance of 5%. The managers expect that retail prices will rise, with a balance of 27%.

A total of 8,987 managers of Romanian-based companies in construction, manufacturing, retail and services were interviewed in the survey.

In June, business sentiment was also positive in all sectors, according to earlier INS data.