Bulgaria reports gloomier business climate in January 2013
Bulgaria’s business climate indicator in January 2013 was 3.2 per cent percentage points lower than the December 2012 figure because of a more unfavourable business climate in industry and the retail trade, the National Statistical Institute said on January 28.
The indicator for industry was 1.9 points lower than in December, brought down by managers’ more moderate assessments of the business situation in the sector.
However, managers were maintaining “some optimism” about business development in the coming three to six months in spite of their difficulties because of the uncertain economic environment and insufficient domestic demand.
Managers in the industry sector expected that selling prices would stay at current levels over the next three months, the National Statistical Institute said.
In the construction sector, the indicator was unchanged from December 2012. At the same time, expectations about new orders over the next six months had improved, with the indicator recording an increase of 14.8 percentage points.
In Bulgaria’s construction sector, the uncertain economic environment continued to be the main obstacle to development, followed by financial problems and competition in the sector.
The National Statistical Institute’s “business climate in retail trade” indicator showed a drop of 12.2 percentage points month-on-month.
Managers’ opinions had shifted down from expecting a better business situation in the coming months to expecting one that was the same.
Expectations about sales and orders placed with suppliers over the next three months had become more reserved.
In the service sector, the business climate indicator was unchanged from December 2012, the National Statistical Institute said.
(Photo: Jason Antony/sxc.hu)
