Statistics: TRENDS IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 2015 – JANUARY 2016

Moderate growth of activity in the services sector Decrease tendency of the activity and in the number of employees in construction ? Relative stability of prices in all economic sectors  The industry and retail trade will experience a trend of relative stability in the next period, the services demand will grow moderately, while the constructions sector will experience a downturn, a survey on trends in the evolution of economic activity between November 2015-January 2016 conducted by the National Statistics Institute (INS) among company managers reveals. According to the survey, published on Wednesday by the INS, in the manufacturing industry it is anticipated that activity will remain stable. Thus, within the short term survey conducted in November 2015, managers in the manufacturing industry are anticipating for the upcoming three months a relative stability of the production volume (short term balance +2pct). The manufacturing of basic pharmaceutical products and of pharmaceutical preparations will experience a growing trend (short term balance +36pct), while the manufacture of beverages will see a sharp downturn (short term balance -41pct). It is forecasted that within the upcoming three months, prices of industrial products will remain stable (short term balance +1pct). The number of employees is also estimated to remain stable, with a short term balance of -1pct in the manufacturing industry overall. In the constructions business, in the upcoming three months, the activity will see a decrease in production volume (short term balance -30pct) and of the contracts and orders stock (short term balance -28pct). Managers are estimating a decrease in the number of employees (short term balance -16%). In regards to the prices of construction works, it is estimated they will remain relatively stable (short term balance -2%). In the retail sector, managers estimate that within the upcoming three months the economic activity will remain relatively stable (short term balance -2pct). The employers are estimating for the same period an increase in the number of employees (short term balance +16%). The volume of orders to the suppliers of goods by commercial entities will register a relative stability (short term balance -4%). For the upcoming period, the managers of the companies estimate that retail prices will remain relatively stable (short term balance + 1%). In the services sector, the demand (turnover) will grow moderately within the next three months (short term balance +11pct), while the number of employees will remain relatively stable (short term balance -2pct). According to managers, selling or invoice prices of the services will remain relatively stable (short term balance +1pct).