Business sentiment survey: more and more threats
May 25, 2020
The coronavirus epidemic, national lockdown and the kick-on effects for the economy are an increasing threat for the bulk of business, with the percentage of surveyed firms admitting to serious threats rising across most segments, a business sentiment survey by Poland's stats office shows.
The percentage of firms calling conditions "a threat to corporate stability" runs from 15.1% in manufacturing or 17.1% in Construction to a heady 50.8% in hospitality.
Those forecasts rose in five of six segments for May forecasts vis-a-vis evaluations for April, coming down only in retail sales where more business, in turn, admit to "serious threat."
In retail, 51.6% call conditions a "serious threat" and 19.9% say a "threat to corporate stability." Retailers expect a 26% decline in retail sales after a 29% decline in April.
In hospitality, 50.8% call current conditions a "threat to corporate stability" and another 38.1% call threats "serious." Businesses expect a 57% decline in client revenues in May after a 68% in May.
Manufacturers are expecting a 24.4% decline in sales in May after a 27.6% decline in April. Orders to suppliers could fall by ca 20% after a 23.5% in April, they say.
In construction, sales are likely to fall by 24% in May after a 25.6% decline in April.