Confidence Indicators, March 27

Confidence Indicators March 2015
To be released on 27 March 2015 at 9.00 a.m.
Only Minor Improvement in Business Confidence
Manufacturing
Manufacturing confidence is below its
long-term average but some production growth is expected.
Construction
Despite some recovery, construction
confidence is still weak.
Services
Service sector confidence stayed almost unchanged at a rather low level.
Retail trade
Retail trade confidence is very weak
although it recovered slightly.
Industrial Confidence Indicator
Finnish manufacturing confidence was roughly unchanged in March. The
confidence indicator is still well below its long-term average. It scored -7 points
in March (-8 in February) while its long-term normal is +1. Slight production
growth is expected for the coming few months. Order books have improved
somewhat but they are still smaller than normal.
Finnish construction confidence indicator picked slightly up in March. Nevertheless, confidence is currently weaker than normal. Order books are smaller than
average and personnel is still expected to decrease. The confidence indicator
scored -21 points in March, up from -24 in February. Its long-term average is -8.
The service sector confidence indicator was almost stable in March. It scored
+2 points, up from +1 in February. Its long-term average is +13. The overall
business situation has still deteriorated slightly. However, moderate sales growth
is expected for the next few months.
Finnish retail trade confidence is still extremely low despite a minor improvement in the confidence indicator. The most recent indicator figure is -19 (revised
figure -22 in February) while the long-term average is -1. Sales volumes are
expected to decrease further.
Construction Confidence Indicator
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Inquiries:
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Penna Urrila, Chief Economic Policy Adviser
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Tel. +358 40 570 7860
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Jouko Kangasniemi, Economist
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Services Confidence Indicator
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Tel. +358 40 551 8136
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Retail Trade Confidence Indicator
firstname.lastname@ek.fi
EK Business Surveys
EK Business Surveys are part of the Joint
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Consumer Surveys. They are co-financed by
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the European Union. EK Business surveys
have been carried out since 1966.
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Confederation of Finnish Industries EK
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Harmonised EU Programme of Business and
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P.O.Box 30, FI-00131 Helsinki, Finland
Telephone +358 9 420 20
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Fax +358 9 4202 2299 www.ek.fi