Romanian managers estimate, for the period October – December 2024, a relative stability in the number of employees in construction and services as well as an increase in prices in construction and retail trade, according to data published on Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

In the October 2024 conjecture survey, managers in the manufacturing industry estimate moderate growth in the volume of production for the next three months (conjuncture balance +7%). Regarding the number of employees, a moderate decrease is estimated, the conjunctural balance being -6%. The prices of industrial products are forecast to increase moderately over the next three months (conjuncture balance +15%).

According to the October 2024 estimates, there will be a moderate decrease in the volume of production in the construction activity in the next three months (conjuncture balance -11%). Managers estimate a relative stability in the number of employees (conjuncture balance -5%). As regards the prices of construction works, they are expected to increase (conjuncture balance +23%).

In the retail trade sector, managers have estimated an upward trend in economic activity for the next three months (conjuncture balance +20%). The volume of orders placed by commercial units with suppliers of goods will grow moderately (conjuncture balance +16%). At the same time, employers are forecasting moderate growth in the number of employees (+11% conjuncture balance) and retail prices (+30% conjuncture balance).

According to the October 2024 estimates, the demand for services (turnover) will remain relatively stable over the next three months (conjuncture balance +5%). Managers in the services sector expect the number of employees to remain relatively stable (conjuncture balance 0%) and they expect a moderate upward trend in the prices of services (conjuncture balance +15%).

The release mentions that the conjuncture balance indicates the perception of business managers on the dynamics of a phenomenon that should not be confused with the rate of growth or decline of any statistical indicator produced by the INS. The percentage conjuncture balance is obtained as the difference between the percentage of managers who chose the positive variant of the phenomenon and the percentage of those who indicated the negative variant.

AGERPRES