Business and consumer surveys
Broad improvement in business confidence; Recovery in the Consumer Confidence Indicator
- February 2006
02 March 2006
Summary
The Business Climate Indicator improved, departing from the level observed for the last four months, resuming levels last observed in June 2005.
The confidence levels in manufacturing industry improved, discontinuing the negative movement of the two previous months. In services, the confidence indicator resumed the positive trend observed since August. In construction and public works, data for February showed some easing, discontinuing the adverse trend of the last six months. In turn, the fifth consecutive improvement in trade was common to both sub-sectors, and was again more apparent in retail trade.
The Consumer Confidence Indicator recovered, resuming the slight upward trend observed since October, which did not yet offsett the strong deterioration occurred from June to August 2005.