XN000022-1985-02-15 — Page 6

5

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1985

IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS WERE ALSO EXPERIENCED BY OTHER SERVICES' SECTOR IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AND FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE EXPECTED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985.

ABOUT 1000 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES, FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY HAD TAKEN PART, IN THE SURVEY AND HAD BEEN ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND EXPECTATIONS.

WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, FIRMS IN THE 'FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO' AND 'WEARING APPAREL' INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED A STABLE LEVEL OF BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

MILD ADVANCES IN BUSINESS WERE REPORTED BY FIRMS IN THE *WATCHES AND CLOCKS' INDUSTRY WHILE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT WAS REPORTED BY FIRMS IN THE PRINTING INDUSTRY.

AS FOR THE OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, WHICH INCLUDE THE 'TEXTILES', 'PLASTICS', 'FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS'

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES, A GENERAL DECLINE IN BUSINESS WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, WITH THE ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES' INDUSTRY REGISTERING THE LARGEST FALL.

REGARDING THE OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985, A GENERAL DOWNTREND IN BUSINESS IS EXPECTED BY FIRMS IN ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, EXCEPT THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY IN WHICH A MILD IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED.

A SHARP DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS IS PREDICTED BY RESPONDING FIRMS IN THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY.

ALTHOUGH 'WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES, AND 'RESTAURANTS' ACHIEVED SOME IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER VARY. "WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES' PREDICT A FURTHER IMPROVEMENT WHILE RESTAURANTS ANTICIPATE A DECLINE, DUE MAINLY TO SEASONAL FACTORS.

HOTELS EXPERIENCED A SUBSTANTIAL SEASONAL UPTURN IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER BUT LOOK FORWARD TO A SEASONAL DOWNTURN IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

FIRMS IN THE OTHER SERVICES' SECTOR ACHIEVED A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, WITH THE EXTENT OF IMPROVEMENT BEING MOST SUBSTANTIAL IN THE CASE OF THE 'TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION' BUSINESS.

AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER IS SHARED BY FIRMS ACROSS THE OTHER SERVICES' SECTOR WITH BANKS' AND 'REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES' PARTICULARLY CONFIDENT OF A STRONG UPTREND IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

THE SURVEY