Manufacturing Sector - March 2013

In March 2013, manufacturing confidence in the Milan area reached its maximum level since September 2011

In detail

The confidence climate index moved from 93.5 in February to 95.5 in March. The reclimbing of the indicator was dragged only by foreign orders, which recovery were disclosed from the foreign orders forecast of the previous three months. Also domestic demand improved, althought slightly, confirming a negative balance. Nevertheless firms showed some signs of prudence; in fact, inventories still destocked, and production expectation fell, remaining positive.

In terms of assessments, industrial production rose, remaing steadily negative. Domestic and foreign turnover increased considerably: in particular, the second one, moved to a positive balance. Employment grew, marking the highest value since July 2011 and showing a value abouve zero.

With reference to forecasts for the next 3-4 months, domestic and foreign orders expectations were nearly unchanged, respectively with negative and positive balances.

Finally, opinions about the Italian economic situation remained strongly negative, confirming the value recorded on February, when the indicator worsened noticeably as a risult of the uncertain political situation.

1. Graphs

Graph 1 - Confidence climate

Graph 2 - Production assessment

Graph 3 - Assessment on domestic orders

Graph 4 - Assessment on foreign orders

Graph 5 - Inventories

Graph 6 - Production expectation

2. Data

Table 1 - Confidence climate¹

1 The industrial confidence indicator is the arithmetic average of the seasonally adjusted data on production expectations, order books and stocks of finished products (with inverted sign). The index base is 2005=100.

 Table 2 - Production

Table 3 - Domestic orders

Table 4 - Foreign orders

Table 5 - Domestic turnover

Table 6 - Foreign turnover

Table 7 - Other balances

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