Managers estimate price increase for manufacturing, construction and retail trade in coming months

Romanian managers estimate, for the period November 2024 - January 2025, a relative stability of economic activity and the number of employees in the manufacturing industry and services, as well as the increase in prices in the manufacturing industry, construction and retail trade, according to the data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

As part of the economic situation survey from November 2024, the managers in the manufacturing industry predict for the next three months a relative stability of the production volume (economic balance -2%). Regarding the number of employees, relative stability is estimated, the short-term balance being -5%. Industrial product prices are forecast to increase in the next three months (short-term balance +17%).

According to the estimates from November 2024, in the construction activity, for the next three months, a decrease in the volume of production will be recorded (short-term balance -19%). The managers estimate a moderate decrease in the number of employees (short-term balance -8%). Regarding the prices of construction works, their increase is expected (short-term balance +23%).

In the retail trade sector, the managers estimated, for the next three months, a moderate growth trend in economic activity (short-term balance +11%). The volume of orders addressed to suppliers of goods by commercial units will increase (short-term balance +20%). Employers forecast, for the next three months, a moderate increase in the number of employees (short-term balance +9%) and a more important advance in retail prices (short-term balance +35%).

The demand for services (turnover) will register relative stability in the next three months (short-term balance +3%). Managers in the service sector foresee relative stability in the number of employees (short-term balance +1%). At the same time, the selling or invoicing prices of services will have a moderate growth trend (short-term balance +15%).

In the press release, it is mentioned that the short-term balance indicates the perception of enterprise managers on the dynamics of a phenomenon that should not be confused with the rate of increase or decrease of any statistical indicator produced by the INS. The percentage conjunctural balance is obtained as the difference between the percentage of managers who chose the positive version of the phenomenon and the percentage of those who indicated the negative version.