In January 2008 the economic conjuncture in the country remained favourable, according to business survey of NSI. The total business climate indicator kept its level of the previous month and continued to be above its long-term average (by 20.5 percentage points).
The more optimistic industrial manager's expectations about the business situation of enterprises over the next 6 months increased the January level of the composite indicator of business climate by 0.6 percentage points. The last inquiry showed higher production activity in the branch as well as increased expectations over the next 3 months.
In the period from October 2007 to January 2008 the assurance of production with orders (measured in months) increased from 5.2 to 5.9, the average capacity utilization increased by 3.1 percentage points and was assessed as 75.0%. According the managers' opinions for those 3 months the competitive position of enterprises, both on domestic and foreign market remained the same. At the same time the expectations about export and hiring labour force over the next 3 months were increased.
Around one fourth of the managers in the branch expected an increase of selling prices over the next months.
Source: NSI
