Manufacturing stocks shrink further

Manufacturers had reduced their stocks of finished products by more than 16 percent in February relative to February 2009. The decrease in February was more substantial than in the six preceding months. The index stocks of finished products (base year 2005=100) stood at 97.6 in February. The reduction of manufacturing stocks occurred simultaneously with a strong increase in manufacturing turnover in February.

Stocks of finished products manufacturing industry (volume)

Manufacturers slightly more positive about their stocks of finished products

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 improved slightly in April, after a marginal deterioration in March 2010. Manufacturers evaluating their stocks as too large somewhat 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 is consistent with the reduction in their stocks during 2009.

Opinions on stocks of finished products