MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1989
QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED
FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1988 COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1988, ACCORDING то THE SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, THEY GENERALLY EXPECT A LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1989 COMPARED WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1988.
IN
THIS COMPARISON IS, HOWEVER, LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS. THE FIRST QUARTER OF EACH YEAR IS USUALLY A SEASONAL LOW PERIOD WHILE THE FOURTH QUARTER IS NORMALLY A MORE ACTIVE SEASON AS FAR AS THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR 15 CONCERNED.
WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, EXPERIENCES OF FIRMS IN INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRIES VARIED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
FIRMS IN THE WEARING APPAREL. PRINTING, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1988 COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER.
FIRMS IN THE FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO AND PLASTICS INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED A LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS.
THE BUSINESS SITUATION OF FIRMS IN THE OTHER INDUSTRIES REMAINED STABLE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
T
AS REGARDS THE BUSINESS PROSPECTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1989 FIRMS IN THE PLASTICS, ELECTRONICS AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRIES EXPECT THEIR BUSINESS SITUATION TO REMAIN BROADLY THE SAME AS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1988.
HOWEVER, FIRMS IN THE OTHER INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY, EXPECT A LOWER LEVEL OF BUSINESS.
THOSE IN
FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR EXPERIENCED A HIGHER LEVEL OF BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1988. THE BUSINESS SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN FAVOURABLE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1989.
IN THE DISTRIBUTIVE AND CATERING TRADES SECTOR, THE MAJORITY OF THE RESPONDING FIRMS HAD IMPROVED BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. IN PARTICULAR, A STRONG SEASONAL UPTREND IN BUSINESS WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.
AS REGARDS THE BUSINESS PROSPECTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER, A SEASONAL DECLINE IN BUSINESS 18 EXPECTED BY FIRMS IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY WHILE THE BUSINESS SITUATION OF RESTAURANTS IS EXPECTED ΤΟ REMAIN STABLE.
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