XN000022-1986-02-14 — Page 2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1986

QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED

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THE BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR REMAINED LARGELY STABLE DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR AS COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.

HOWEVER, MANUFACTURERS GENERALLY EXPECT A MILD DECLINE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, PARTLY DUE TO SEASONAL FACTORS.

THIS IS PART OF THE SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY).

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 THIER BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND EXPECTATIONS.

ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR EXPERIENCED A CONTINUED UPTREND DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1985 AND EXPECT THE SITUATION TO REMAIN FAVOURABLE DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS WAS ALSO REPORTED BY FIRMS

IN THE 'WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS' SECTOR AND THE SITUATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS WAS EXPERIENCED BY FIRMS IN THE 'OTHER SERVICES' SECTOR DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER AND THEY WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, A DECLINE IN BUSINESS WAS EXPERIENCED BY FIRMS IN THE 'FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO'

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES' AND 'ELECTRONICS' INDUSTRIES DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY THE CASE FOR MOST OF THE FIRMS IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY.

PARTICIPATING FIRMS IN THE 'WEARING APPAREL AND TEXTILES' INDUSTRIES ACHIEVED SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER WHILE THOSE IN THE 'PRINTING', 'FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS' AND 'WATCHES AND CLOCKS' INDUSTRIES REPORTED LITTLE CHANGE.

REGARDING THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, EXPECTATIONS VARIED ACROSS DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

WHILE A GENERAL DECLINE IN BUSINESS WAS PREDICTED BY FIRMS IN THE 'FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO', 'WEARING APPAREL', 'TEXTILES', FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS' AND 'ELÉCTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES INDUSTRIES, SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS WERE ANTICIPATED BY FIRMS IN THE 'PLASTICS' AND 'ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES.

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/RE-SPONDING FIRMS