XN000022-1985-05-20 — Page 7

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QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED

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FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR EXPERIENCED A DETERIORATION IN THE IR BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985 COMPARED TO THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1984, ACCORDING TO SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

HOWEVER, MANUFACTURING FIRMS ARE GENERALLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1985 AND EXPECT TO ACHIEVE SOME IMPROVEMENT.

AS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, THE EXPECTATION OF A RECOVERY IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER, AS INDICATED BY CONSTRUCTION FIRMS IN THE PREVIOUS ROUND OF THE SURVEY, MATERIALISED.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1982 THAT AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS WAS ACHIEVED. A CONTINUED UPTREND IN BUSINESS IS EXPECTED BY CONSTRUCTION FIRMS IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR EXPERIENCED A LARGELY STABLE BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER, BUT A DECLINE IN BUSINESS IS ANTICIPATED FOR THE SECOND QUARTER.

ABOUT 1 000 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES. FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY AND WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND EXPECTATIONS.

WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE MAJORITY OF FIRMS IN THE WEARING APPAREL, TEXTILES, PLASTICS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED A DECLINE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985.

FIRMS IN THE OTHER INDUSTRIES HOWEVER EXPERIENCED A LARGELY STABLE BUSINESS SITUATION, WITH A SMALL DECLINE ON BALANCE REPORTED BY FIRMS IN THE FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES INDUSTRIES.

THE PRINTING INDUSTRY HAS DONE BETTER THAN EARLIER EXPECTED AND THIS HAS BEEN A RATHER GOOD FIRST QUARTER WHEN COMPARED WITH THE HISTORICAL TREND.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE BUSINESS SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE FOR FIRMS ACROSS ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, WITH FIRMS IN THE FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO, PLASTICS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRIES PARTICULARLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1985.

AS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, A RECOVERY IN BUSINESS WAS EXPERIENCED IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND A FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IS EXPECTED TO BE ACHIEVED IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

/THE BUSINESS