MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1988
QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED
THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION EXPERIENCED BY FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1987 WAS LARGELY SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE YEAR'S THIRD QUARTER, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
IN REGARD TO THE BUSINESS PROSPECTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1988, OPINIONS OF FIRMS ARE DIVIDED, BUT ON BALANCE THEY EXPECT A DECLINE IN BUSINESS OVER THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1987, WHICH IS MAINLY DUE TO SEASONAL FACTORS.
WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, FIRMS IN ALL INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED A MODERATE IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1987 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 'TEXTILES' AND 'PLASTICS' INDUSTRIES WHICH RECORDED A DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS.
REGARDING THE BUSINESS PROSPECTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1988, FIRMS IN THE 'PRINTING' 'ELECTRICAL
I
MACHINERY APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES' AND 'ELECTRONICS' EXPECT LITTLE CHANGE IN BUSINESS, WHEREAS FIRMS IN THE 'WATCHES AND CLOCKS' INDUSTRY LOOK FORWARD TO SOME IMPROVEMENT.
HOWEVER, FIRMS IN THE OTHER INDUSTRIES EXPECT A DECLINE IN BUSINESS, PARTICULARLY IN THE 'TEXTILES' AND 'PLASTICS' INDUSTRIES.
FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR EXPERIENCED BUSINESS UPTREND IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1987 AND BUSINESS SITUATION TO REMAIN FAVOURABLE DURING THE FIRST 1988.
A CONTINUED EXPECT THE QUARTER OF
AS FOR THE 'WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS' SECTOR, FIRMS GENERALLY EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1987.
A SEASONAL DECLINE IN BUSINESS IS EXPECTED FOR FIRMS IN THE + HOTELS' AND 'RESTAURANTS' BUSINESSES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1988 WHEREAS THE BUSINESS SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN STABLE FOR FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES'.
SIMILARLY, FIRMS IN THE 'BANKS' AND *TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION' BUSINESSES REPORTED AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1987.
AS FOR THE FIRMS IN THE 'REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES' SECTOR, SOME DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
/AS REGARDS