Showing posts with label consumer services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label consumer services. Show all posts
Monday, 26 November 2012
Confidence Growing In Service Sector
Confidence is growing in the service sector and firms are more optimistic than three months ago according to the latest services survey by the CBI. It is because business has generally been better and things are expected to continue improve in the coming months. Business are also employing more staff and spending more time on training.
The business situation is better than it was three months ago according to consumer service providers. Volumes fell at a similar rate but values fell more slowly due to slower price deflation. Selling prices fell slightly but are expected to rise.
Professional and business services firms were much more optimistic than the last quarter. There was an unexpected improvement in both business volumes and values and volumes are expected to continue to grow and growth in values is expected to strengthen. Profitability stabilised when it was expected to fall and is expected to grow in the next quarter.
Monday, 1 March 2010
Business Services Still Under Pressure
Volumes of business in the service sector rose in the most recent quarter according to the CBI services survey, but while consumer services improved slightly, business services did not.
The value and volume of consumer services increased over the last three months with the survey balance up 10% the highest since August 2007. Profitability did not change much but with costs rising only 2%, the best figures since November 2007. Sales prices increased and are expected to rise again during the next quarter.
In business and professional services it was slightly different. Although value and volume of business was little changed, according to the survey, prices and profitability fell, giving a negative balance.
The survey also reported that both consumer and business services were cutting back on staff. It also reported that on the whole both sectors were more optimistic about the business situation than the last quarter and plans to expand were more numerous in consumer services than business services. A factor affecting service sector businesses expansion decisions was concern about the strength of demand and their ability to raise funds was considered a barrier to growth.
The value and volume of consumer services increased over the last three months with the survey balance up 10% the highest since August 2007. Profitability did not change much but with costs rising only 2%, the best figures since November 2007. Sales prices increased and are expected to rise again during the next quarter.
In business and professional services it was slightly different. Although value and volume of business was little changed, according to the survey, prices and profitability fell, giving a negative balance.
The survey also reported that both consumer and business services were cutting back on staff. It also reported that on the whole both sectors were more optimistic about the business situation than the last quarter and plans to expand were more numerous in consumer services than business services. A factor affecting service sector businesses expansion decisions was concern about the strength of demand and their ability to raise funds was considered a barrier to growth.
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