Business Climate Indicator Up 0.8 pp for January 2017
The regular monthly poll by Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute (NSI) has found that the country’s business climate improved slightly in January, 2017 in comparison to the previous month. The total business climate indicator increased by 0.8 percentage point in comparison to December 2016, mainly due to the improved business climate in the industry and the service sectors.
The “business climate in industry” composed indicator increased to 0.9 percentage point compared to the previous month. This is mainly due to optimism about the business situation of the enterprises over the next six months. The composite indicator “business climate in construction” fell by 1.2 percentage point because of a shifting in the construction entrepreneurs’ assessments of the present business situation from “good” to “satisfactory”, which is considered normal for the winter season.
The average capacity utilization in industry remained at its October 2016 level at 74.6%. Capacity shortages are expected with the rise in production over the next few months.
The selling prices in industry are expected to remain at the same level over the next three months. In this sector, managers saw the uncertain economic environment and increased competition in the sector as the most serious negative factors, together with weather concerns.
