More business services providers expect higher turnover

In January, the number of business services providers expecting turnover to increase outnumbered those expecting a decline by 14 percent, as against 3 percent in December. There was also an increase in business services providers expecting higher prices. The number of business services providers who saw turnover grow in the past three months equalled those who faced loss of turnover.

Providers of business services were less pessimistic about future employment in their branch in January than they had been in December. Yet, on balance, 10 percent expected to have to cut back on staff in the three months to come.

Business services providers indicated that the economic climate has deteriorated over the past three months, but their number declined relative to the preceding month. Although this indicator has shown a clearly negative balance since October 2008, there have been some signs of recovery in recent months. Over 40 percent of entrepreneurs indicated that a shortage in demand is the main factor to limit their business activities, as against more than 50 percent in the preceding quarter.

Expected turnover business services