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Informations Rapides · 24 May 2024 · n° 124
Informations rapidesIn May 2024, the business climate in manufacturing industry has slightly degraded and has gone back below its average Monthly business survey (goods-producing industries) - May 2024

According to the business managers surveyed in May 2024, the business climate in manufacturing industry has decreased again. At 99, the synthetic indicator has lost one point and has gone back below its long-period average (100). This drop is mainly due to the degradation of the balances of opinion associated with the evolution of the production, both past and future.

Informations rapides
No 124
Paru le :Paru le24/05/2024
Prochaine parution le : 21/03/2025 at 08:45 - March 2025
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According to the business managers surveyed in May 2024, the business climate in manufacturing industry has decreased again. At 99, the synthetic indicator has lost one point and has gone back below its long-period average (100). This drop is mainly due to the degradation of the balances of opinion associated with the evolution of the production, both past and future.

Business climate in manufacturing - Composite indicator

Business climate in manufacturing - Composite indicator
Business climate in manufacturing - Composite indicator
2024-05 99.2
2024-04 100.0
2024-03 102.6
2024-02 100.6
2024-01 98.5
2023-12 99.3
2023-11 98.6
2023-10 98.8
2023-09 99.1
2023-08 96.8
2023-07 100.7
2023-06 100.1
2023-05 98.9
2023-04 100.9
2023-03 103.6
2023-02 103.3
2023-01 102.2
2022-12 101.4
2022-11 101.6
2022-10 103.7
2022-09 102.7
2022-08 103.3
2022-07 105.3
2022-06 107.3
2022-05 106.6
2022-04 107.9
2022-03 107.5
2022-02 111.3
2022-01 112.3
2021-12 109.3
2021-11 110.1
2021-10 108.0
2021-09 107.7
2021-08 109.5
2021-07 109.2
2021-06 107.3
2021-05 107.4
2021-04 103.8
2021-03 98.5
2021-02 97.0
2021-01 95.8
2020-12 94.9
2020-11 92.4
2020-10 95.0
2020-09 95.1
2020-08 91.3
2020-07 81.2
2020-06 76.6
2020-05 69.6
2020-04 66.2
2020-03 97.4
2020-02 100.1
2020-01 101.9
2019-12 99.1
2019-11 102.5
2019-10 100.2
2019-09 102.4
2019-08 101.9
2019-07 101.0
2019-06 101.8
2019-05 103.4
2019-04 101.1
2019-03 103.4
2019-02 102.8
2019-01 103.0
2018-12 103.6
2018-11 105.6
2018-10 104.8
2018-09 107.9
2018-08 108.6
2018-07 108.5
2018-06 109.5
2018-05 109.6
2018-04 110.3
2018-03 110.5
2018-02 112.3
2018-01 113.7
2017-12 112.1
2017-11 112.1
2017-10 111.8
2017-09 111.5
2017-08 110.0
2017-07 108.5
2017-06 108.9
2017-05 108.3
2017-04 108.3
2017-03 105.3
2017-02 106.5
2017-01 105.8
2016-12 105.8
2016-11 102.1
2016-10 102.1
2016-09 103.5
2016-08 101.5
2016-07 101.5
2016-06 101.4
2016-05 104.3
2016-04 104.7
2016-03 102.5
2016-02 102.9
2016-01 102.7
2015-12 102.5
2015-11 102.3
2015-10 103.1
2015-09 104.8
2015-08 103.5
2015-07 101.5
2015-06 100.2
2015-05 101.7
2015-04 101.4
2015-03 98.8
2015-02 98.3
2015-01 98.7
2014-12 98.6
2014-11 98.7
2014-10 97.3
2014-09 96.7
2014-08 96.5
2014-07 96.1
2014-06 96.4
2014-05 98.2
2014-04 100.2
2014-03 100.7
2014-02 98.2
2014-01 99.5
2013-12 99.2
2013-11 98.1
2013-10 97.8
2013-09 95.7
2013-08 98.4
2013-07 94.5
2013-06 92.5
2013-05 91.8
2013-04 87.3
2013-03 90.3
2013-02 90.2
2013-01 89.6
2012-12 90.6
2012-11 91.4
2012-10 86.7
2012-09 92.4
2012-08 92.6
2012-07 90.8
2012-06 92.9
2012-05 94.6
2012-04 95.4
2012-03 96.3
2012-02 94.7
2012-01 94.8
2011-12 94.5
2011-11 97.4
2011-10 97.2
2011-09 99.1
2011-08 101.2
2011-07 104.8
2011-06 110.0
2011-05 107.3
2011-04 110.2
2011-03 110.3
2011-02 107.0
2011-01 108.9
2010-12 104.2
2010-11 101.8
2010-10 104.1
2010-09 102.9
2010-08 100.4
2010-07 97.2
2010-06 95.7
2010-05 96.5
2010-04 95.0
2010-03 91.0
2010-02 88.5
2010-01 90.1
2009-12 87.3
2009-11 87.4
2009-10 84.9
2009-09 83.7
2009-08 80.6
2009-07 76.0
2009-06 74.4
2009-05 71.7
2009-04 69.9
2009-03 65.8
2009-02 67.8
2009-01 72.0
2008-12 72.8
2008-11 79.3
2008-10 86.7
2008-09 91.3
2008-08 97.9
2008-07 98.6
2008-06 103.4
2008-05 104.1
2008-04 107.4
2008-03 110.0
2008-02 110.4
2008-01 110.6
2007-12 112.6
2007-11 112.3
2007-10 110.0
2007-09 110.6
2007-08 111.0
2007-07 111.6
2007-06 111.3
2007-05 110.1
2007-04 112.0
2007-03 111.4
2007-02 111.8
2007-01 108.3
2006-12 109.2
2006-11 109.7
2006-10 107.2
2006-09 108.1
2006-08 108.5
2006-07 108.9
2006-06 108.6
2006-05 108.8
2006-04 107.9
2006-03 106.4
2006-02 106.5
2006-01 103.0
2005-12 104.1
2005-11 100.9
2005-10 101.0
2005-09 98.8
2005-08 99.5
2005-07 100.0
2005-06 98.9
2005-05 96.9
2005-04 96.4
2005-03 99.6
2005-02 103.1
2005-01 103.3

Business climate in manufacturing - Composite indicator

  • Source: INSEE

Industrialists’ opinion on manufacturing industry

Balance of opinion, in %, SA
Industrialists’ opinion on manufacturing industry (Balance of opinion, in %, SA)
Manufacturing industry Ave.* Feb-24 Mar-24 Apr-24 May-24
Business climate 100 101 103 100 99
Past production 5 0 1 1 -2
Finished-goods inventory 12 7 7 12 11
Overall order books -18 -17 -13 -19 -17
Foreign order books -14 -6 -5 -11 -8
Past workforce size -8 3 3 3 -1
Expected workforce size -9 4 5 4 3
Personal production expectations 6 4 10 8 1
General production expectations -7 -8 -7 -7 -9
Expected trend in selling prices 4 0 -1 3 -1
Economic uncertainty felt** 29 24 28 27 28
  • * Long-term average since 1976 except for the economic uncertainty felt (April 2021).
  • ** Non-seasonally adjusted balance of opinion
  • Source: INSEE - Monthly business tendency survey in industry

The balances of opinion on the evolution of the production have degraded

In May 2024, the balance of opinion on the personal production expectations over the next three months has clearly decreased and has gone back below its average. The one relative to the general prospects of production in the industry has diminished more slightly and has moved away from its average. Finally, the balance of opinion on the evolution of the production over the last three months has also decreased and has moved away from its average. The economic uncertainty felt by the business leaders has increased slightly: the corresponding balance is just below its average.

The balances of opinion associated with the level of the order books, both overall and foreign, have partially rebounded. The one relative to the overall order books has gone back just above its average while the one relative to the foreign order books has moved away from its own.

The balance of opinion associated with the current level of finished-goods inventories has slightly decreased and has gone back just below its average.

Concerning the workforce size, the balance of opinion on the past change has clearly fallen and has reached its lowest level since June 2021. The one on the expected change has decreased more slightly but has reached its lowest level since May 2021. Both nevertheless remain well above their average.

The balance of opinion related to the expected trend in selling prices over the next three months has retreated and has gone back to its level in March. It has moved away from its average.

The share of companies declaring being limited in their production by workforce shortage is stable and well above its average. The share of companies declaring sourcing difficulties as a factor limiting their production has decreased again and has moved closer to its average. In total, the share of companies declaring supply-side obstacles only is stable: at 24%, it remains just above its long-term average. Finally, the share of companies declaring difficulties of demand only has increased again: at 29%, it remains nonetheless well below its long-period average.

Share of companies declaring obstacles limiting their production*

Share of companies, in % of answers, SA
Share of companies declaring obstacles limiting their production* (Share of companies, in % of answers, SA)
Manufacturing industry Ave.** Feb-24 Mar-24 Apr-24 May-24
Difficulties of supply and demand 9 9 9 9 9
Sourcing difficulties 11 17 16 14 13
Workforce shortage 9 19 19 20 20
Difficulties of supply only 22 27 27 24 24
Difficulties of demand only 40 24 24 28 29
  • * Quaterly series from January 1991 then monthly series from May 2022
  • ** Long-term average since 1991 on monthly series (over the quarterly collection period, the point collected in the first month of each quarter was carried over identically to the following two months).
  • Sources : INSEE – Monthly business survey in industry

The business climate has decreased in the manufacture of food products and beverages and in the manufacture of transport equipment

In May 2024, the business climate indicator in the manufacture of food products and beverages has diminished for the first time since October 2023. It remains clearly below its long-period average. Most of the balances of opinion have decreased, particularly the ones on the evolution of the production over the last three months and on the level of the order books, both overall and foreign.

In the manufacture of machinery and equipment goods, the synthetic indicator of the business climate has rebounded but remains just below its average. This rebound is mainly due to the increase of the balances of opinion on the level of the foreign order books and on the evolution of the past production while the one on the personal production expectations has decreased again. The climate has rebounded in the manufacture of machinery and equipment whereas it has degraded again in the manufacture of electrical equipment.

In the manufacture of transport equipment, the synthetic indicator of the business climate has decreased again but remains well above its average. It has rebounded slightly in the sub-sector of “motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers” while it has withdrawn softly in the sub-sector of “other transport equipment”. In the sub-sector of “motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers”, the balances of opinion associated with the personal production expectations and with the level of the foreign order books have clearly increased. On the contrary, in the sub-sector of “other transport equipment”, the personal production expectations have clearly decreased.

Finally, the business climate in “other manufacturing” is stable. At 96, the synthetic indicator remains below its long-period average. It has rebounded in the manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products, where most of the balances of opinion have increased, while it has decreased again in the manufacture of “other industrial products”, mainly due to the evolution of the past production.

Business climates in a sector-based approach

Business climates in a sector-based approach
(C1) (C3) (C4) (C5)
2024-05 90.0 98.6 109.3 96.5
2024-04 92.4 97.0 110.3 95.9
2024-03 92.2 103.0 112.2 96.6
2024-02 88.0 98.7 110.4 96.2
2024-01 86.6 99.2 111.8 93.9
2023-12 86.1 98.4 111.2 95.2
2023-11 85.4 103.4 110.5 93.9
2023-10 84.3 100.7 112.2 94.4
2023-09 87.7 104.3 104.0 95.6
2023-08 87.5 101.3 103.2 95.2
2023-07 91.6 106.2 112.0 94.5
2023-06 85.9 105.4 105.2 94.7
2023-05 92.7 105.9 103.3 95.1
2023-04 94.1 109.7 103.0 97.9
2023-03 99.3 112.2 103.9 98.9
2023-02 102.5 110.0 103.9 96.2
2023-01 100.2 111.3 103.0 96.3
2022-12 99.5 111.8 102.1 95.9
2022-11 104.1 110.6 103.8 95.5
2022-10 107.9 113.4 105.6 96.5
2022-09 106.6 111.1 100.5 98.4
2022-08 107.0 111.9 100.5 99.7
2022-07 106.9 112.5 105.5 101.6
2022-06 106.4 112.0 102.0 105.7
2022-05 107.2 111.5 101.0 104.9
2022-04 109.2 113.1 101.2 108.8
2022-03 111.2 112.4 99.8 108.0
2022-02 111.3 114.9 103.7 111.3
2022-01 111.7 116.0 104.5 110.4
2021-12 116.4 116.2 91.3 112.2
2021-11 115.2 116.1 97.4 113.5
2021-10 112.7 115.5 91.4 111.4
2021-09 109.2 115.7 90.1 112.9
2021-08 111.1 118.7 92.9 113.2
2021-07 114.0 114.9 92.2 114.6
2021-06 116.1 115.2 89.9 110.7
2021-05 116.4 111.6 89.7 110.5
2021-04 105.7 112.8 88.5 107.4
2021-03 101.3 106.4 83.6 104.2
2021-02 94.7 105.2 88.9 101.2
2021-01 91.4 103.5 87.1 100.3
2020-12 89.3 95.3 88.9 101.7
2020-11 92.7 91.2 90.9 94.8
2020-10 93.7 93.1 92.2 95.5
2020-09 102.3 90.3 93.2 92.7
2020-08 96.7 89.5 90.9 88.0
2020-07 88.3 85.0 80.0 81.2
2020-06 90.9 79.2 76.1 78.6
2020-05 91.7 76.6 74.4 73.8
2020-04 93.1 76.7 72.2 72.6
2020-03 108.5 98.3 95.0 97.1
2020-02 107.8 99.1 99.2 100.0
2020-01 107.9 99.9 105.1 99.1
2019-12 107.5 97.2 100.8 97.7
2019-11 104.5 98.1 107.3 101.0
2019-10 105.2 96.0 101.7 99.5
2019-09 108.2 99.6 102.5 101.6
2019-08 108.8 98.7 101.3 101.8
2019-07 102.9 102.9 99.7 100.3
2019-06 108.6 98.8 100.4 100.8
2019-05 111.2 103.9 101.9 102.2
2019-04 107.1 100.9 100.3 100.7
2019-03 108.0 100.4 102.3 101.4
2019-02 108.0 104.4 99.7 101.1
2019-01 107.7 102.5 102.0 101.9
2018-12 107.9 102.5 103.2 102.2
2018-11 108.8 102.1 105.3 102.8
2018-10 102.2 106.3 104.6 103.3
2018-09 107.8 107.5 105.9 105.2
2018-08 107.9 106.8 106.6 105.8
2018-07 107.3 107.9 106.8 106.5
2018-06 109.5 107.5 109.7 105.7
2018-05 108.1 110.7 108.0 107.7
2018-04 110.0 109.1 111.5 107.5
2018-03 109.3 109.3 111.1 109.3
2018-02 109.7 110.1 111.8 110.0
2018-01 111.1 111.4 112.0 111.0
2017-12 111.4 111.0 111.1 110.6
2017-11 111.9 109.7 110.3 111.3
2017-10 111.6 109.0 109.4 111.0
2017-09 107.1 107.5 110.1 109.0
2017-08 108.7 105.7 108.8 108.3
2017-07 109.3 108.6 109.2 107.0
2017-06 111.7 108.2 105.0 108.6
2017-05 105.6 108.2 105.2 106.9
2017-04 105.0 106.3 104.2 107.7
2017-03 104.1 104.0 104.8 104.5
2017-02 105.1 103.4 105.9 106.2
2017-01 103.7 101.5 106.4 105.5
2016-12 108.5 103.1 104.8 104.8
2016-11 107.9 99.5 102.2 101.4
2016-10 106.6 97.3 105.9 101.2
2016-09 109.0 98.4 105.4 100.4
2016-08 99.4 98.2 104.1 101.3
2016-07 104.5 97.5 105.4 101.6
2016-06 103.1 97.1 106.1 101.4
2016-05 103.3 97.2 106.0 103.8
2016-04 105.9 99.9 109.3 101.2
2016-03 101.5 99.1 106.0 101.1
2016-02 100.2 100.7 109.2 99.8
2016-01 101.6 100.6 108.2 99.4
2015-12 100.0 98.0 108.0 101.6
2015-11 102.4 99.6 107.9 99.4
2015-10 104.4 98.1 108.1 99.8
2015-09 105.5 96.0 109.3 102.5
2015-08 103.2 97.2 108.3 101.4
2015-07 108.4 98.3 105.0 102.7
2015-06 105.0 97.1 105.4 100.8
2015-05 101.9 97.2 105.0 101.4
2015-04 104.7 96.6 107.1 100.5
2015-03 100.9 94.2 105.3 100.0
2015-02 99.5 94.9 100.8 100.1
2015-01 103.2 93.3 101.5 99.6
2014-12 99.2 92.0 99.6 100.1
2014-11 96.2 92.0 100.0 99.7
2014-10 95.6 92.5 97.2 98.4
2014-09 94.4 92.1 100.9 97.1
2014-08 95.6 93.3 97.8 100.4
2014-07 97.1 89.1 98.9 98.9
2014-06 95.6 91.7 98.1 98.4
2014-05 98.1 93.6 98.0 99.4
2014-04 95.9 92.7 102.7 100.1
2014-03 99.7 92.8 100.7 102.3
2014-02 99.2 93.7 98.1 98.2
2014-01 99.4 91.1 102.1 98.6
2013-12 98.2 91.8 99.7 99.1
2013-11 98.1 92.2 102.2 98.6
2013-10 95.5 90.2 103.6 97.6
2013-09 94.9 89.9 97.4 97.1
2013-08 95.4 91.5 101.3 97.0
2013-07 92.4 89.5 98.6 94.8
2013-06 92.7 89.1 94.6 93.1
2013-05 91.5 89.3 94.8 91.6
2013-04 91.6 89.5 92.7 89.0
2013-03 93.9 88.8 93.5 91.1
2013-02 97.9 88.8 94.3 90.1
2013-01 97.5 87.9 92.7 91.1
2012-12 98.7 87.5 92.2 91.7
2012-11 98.1 87.2 92.7 92.1
2012-10 90.9 86.1 95.7 89.2
2012-09 96.7 90.9 97.4 93.5
2012-08 93.7 90.2 95.2 93.3
2012-07 94.5 90.8 95.3 92.1
2012-06 95.0 90.9 95.6 93.5
2012-05 93.3 94.8 95.0 95.7
2012-04 99.0 95.7 94.2 97.7
2012-03 102.4 96.4 103.0 97.0
2012-02 100.5 96.1 93.7 95.8
2012-01 99.8 96.1 94.8 94.0
2011-12 98.4 96.0 100.0 94.4
2011-11 102.1 95.9 102.6 94.0
2011-10 104.4 98.2 100.2 96.2
2011-09 101.8 99.4 98.7 98.0
2011-08 103.5 100.3 101.8 100.3
2011-07 111.4 102.3 103.7 104.9
2011-06 108.5 104.1 109.4 108.8
2011-05 109.7 103.1 105.2 107.6
2011-04 108.9 104.5 105.9 110.0
2011-03 106.6 106.3 106.3 109.7
2011-02 107.3 101.8 99.3 108.4
2011-01 109.0 103.8 105.1 105.2

Business climates in a sector-based approach

  • Legend: (C1): Manufacture of food products and beverages - (C3): Machinery and equipment goods - (C4): Manufacture of transport equipment - (C5): Other manufacturing
  • Source: INSEE

Business climates in a sector-based approach

Average = 100 and standard deviation = 10 since 1990
Business climates in a sector-based approach (Average = 100 and standard deviation = 10 since 1990)
NA* : (A17) and [A38 and A64] Weights** (%) Mar-24 Apr-24 May-24
(C1) Man. of food products and beverages 20 92 92 90
(C3) Machinery and equipment goods 11 103 97 99
          [CI] Computer, electronic and optical products 4 108 104 104
          [CJ] Electrical equipment 3 107 98 95
          [CK] Machinery and equipment 5 97 93 97
(C4) Man. of transport equipment 19 112 110 109
          [CL1] Motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 9 100 96 97
          [CL2] Other transport equipment 10 116 117 116
(C5) Other manufacturing 45 97 96 96
          [CB] Textiles, clothing industries, leather and footwear industry 2 103 103 100
          [CC] Wood, paper, printing 4 95 96 98
          [CE] Chemicals and chemical products 8 94 92 92
          [CG] Rubber and plastic products 7 89 89 90
          [CH] Basic metals and fabricated metal products 11 93 92 96
          [CM] Other manufacturing industries / Manufacture of other industrial products 10 107 106 104
  • * NA: aggregated classification, based on the French classification of activities NAF rév.2.
  • ** Weights used to aggregate sub-sectors’ balances of opinion.
  • Source: INSEE - Monthly business tendency survey in industry

Revisions

The business climate in manufacturing industry of April 2024 has not been revised (after rounding).

For further information

For questions with three possible answers, a balance of opinion is the difference between the weighted percentage of “above normal” or “increase” answers and the weighted percentage of “below normal” or “decrease” answers.

The composite indicators of business climate presented here are estimated independently of one another. Thus, that of the whole of manufacturing industry cannot be deduced from the sub-sectoral climates. The same balances of opinion are included into their calculations, but they are not assigned the same weightings. Also, the indicators are scaled to have a long-run average of 100 and a standard deviation of 10.

This survey is part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.

Additional information (methodology, links, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab.

Answers to this survey have been gathered between 29 April 2024 and 21 May 2024.

Next issue: 21 June 2024 at 8:45 am.

Documentation

Changes to business tendency surveys – October 2021 (pdf,181 Ko)

Abbreviated methodology (pdf,157 Ko)

Monthly outlook survey in industry

Aggregated classification - NA, 2008

Pour en savoir plus

For questions with three possible answers, a balance of opinion is the difference between the weighted percentage of “above normal” or “increase” answers and the weighted percentage of “below normal” or “decrease” answers.

The composite indicators of business climate presented here are estimated independently of one another. Thus, that of the whole of manufacturing industry cannot be deduced from the sub-sectoral climates. The same balances of opinion are included into their calculations, but they are not assigned the same weightings. Also, the indicators are scaled to have a long-run average of 100 and a standard deviation of 10.

This survey is part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.

Additional information (methodology, links, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab.

Answers to this survey have been gathered between 29 April 2024 and 21 May 2024.

Next issue: 21 June 2024 at 8:45 am.

: bureau-de-presse@insee.fr
:

Publication calendar

Time series : Industry - Activity and demand

Ouvrir dans un nouvel ongletThe Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys (BCS)