XN000022-1982-11-22 — Page 2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1982

REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY HELD IN OCTOBER 1982

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER 1982.

ABOUT 800 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES REPRESENTING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE ECONOMY, WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IN THE 3RD QUARTER OF 1982, AND THEIR BUSINESS EXPECTATIONS FOR THE 4TH QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

MANUFACTURING'

RESULTS OF THE SURVEY INDICATE THAT FIRMS IN THE SECTOR ON THE WHOLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS DURING THE 3RD QUARTER OF 1982. THIS ACCORDS WITH EXPECTATIONS RECORDED IN THE LAST SURVEY.

FIRMS IN THE 'CONSTRUCTION' SECTOR EXPERIENCED A MORE SUBSTANTIAL DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS DURING THE 3RD QUARTER COMPARED WITH WHAT THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED.

FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS' SECTOR, REPORTED A DECLINE IN BUSINESS APART FROM RESTAURANTS.

FIRMS IN THE OTHER SERVICES' SECTOR IN GENERAL EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR BUSINESS SITUATION AS THAT IN THE 2ND QUARTER, THIS FELL SHORT OF THE IR PREVIOUS EXPECTATIONS OF A MILD IMPROVEMENT.

ACCORDING TO THE RESPONDENTS, THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN THE 4TH QUARTER OF 1982 IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT THE 3RD QUARTER LEVEL.

ON THE WHOLE, NO IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS PROSPECTS IS PREDICTED FOR THE 4TH QUARTER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE WEARING APPAREL' AND 'TEXTILES' INDUSTRIES.

FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION' SECTOR ARE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE 4TH QUARTER AND EXPECT A FURTHER DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS. HOWEVER, FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE. RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS' AND 'OTHER SERVICES' SECTORS BOTH LOOK FORWARD TO IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS PROSPECTS IN THE 4TH QUARTER.

WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR', RESPONDENTS IN THE 'WEARING APPAREL AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES ON BALANCE REPORTED NO IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE 3RD QUARTER, AND THEY EXPECT AN UPTURN IN THE 4TH QUARTER.

IN THE 'FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO', 'PLASTICS', AND *WATCHES AND CLOCKS' INDUSTRIES, RESPONDING FIRMS EXPERIENCED IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS TO VARYING DEGREES DURING THE 3RD QUARTER. HOWEVER, THEY EXPECT DETERIORATIONS IN BUSINESS IN THE 4TH QUARTER, ESPECIALLY IN RESPECT OF THE 'PLASTICS' INDUSTRY.

/A DETERIORATION