XN000022-1986-05-16 — Page 7

FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1926

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QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED ******

THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS A WHOLE REMAINED LARGELY STABLE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1986 COMPARED WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1985.

HOWEVER, FIRMS ACROSS DIFFERENT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES EXPECT AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1986 COMPARED TO THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1986.

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

FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR EXPERIENCED A CONTINUED UPTREND IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1986 AND EXPECT THE BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE SECOND QUARTER TO IMPROVE FURTHER.

A MILD DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS WAS REPORTED BY FIRMS IN THE +WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS+ SECTOR AND THE BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE SECOND QUARTER IS EXPECTED TO BE SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS WAS EXPERIENCED BY FIRMS IN THE +OTHER SERVICES+ SECTOR DURING THE FIRST QUARTER AND THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK 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, A DECLINE IN BUSINESS WAS +WEARING REPORTED BY FIRMS IN THE +FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO+ APPAREL+, +FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS+ AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS+ INDUSTRIES IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

BY CONTRAST, RESPONDING FIRMS IN THE +ELECTRICAL MACHINERY APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES+ AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES ACHIEVED SOME IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER WHILE THOSE IN THE TEXTILES, PRINTING AND PLASTICS INDUSTRIES REPORTED LITTLE CHANGE.

REGARDING BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND QUARTER RESPONDING FIRMS ACROSS ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES EXPECT AN UPTURN IN BUSINESS IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

/FIRMS IN