Decrease manufacturing stocks remains substantial

Manufacturers had reduced their stocks of finished products by almost 12 percent in December relative to December 2008. The decrease was in the same order of magnitude as in the four preceding months. The index stocks of finished products (base year 2005=100) stood at 97.7 in December.

Stocks of finished products manufacturing industry (volume)

Opinions on stocks of finished products stable

The Business Sentiment Survey for the Manufacturing Industry provides a first indication of the development of the index stocks of finished products in the near future. In this survey, manufacturers are invited to define their current stocks of finished products as too large (negative), normal or too small (positive) in relation to projected sales. These results are available two months earlier than data on the stocks of finished products.

Manufacturers’ opinions on their stocks hardly changed in January and February 2010. Manufacturers considering their stocks too large marginally outnumbered those evaluating their stocks as too small. Manufacturers are clearly more optimistic about the level of their stocks than at the beginning of 2009. This optimism coincides with the reduction in their stocks during 2009.

Opinions on stocks of finished products