In January 2021 compared with December 2020, confidence indicator in trade dropped by 1,3 percentage points (p.p.) to 2,0. The drop was affected mainly by the increase of the goods stock and by the more negative evaluation of the current business activities (from seasonally adjusted data).

73 % of respondents assessed the trend in business activities over the past three months as favourable or unchanged. The seasonally adjusted balance (-2) decreased by 4 p.p. compared with the previous month. Negative evaluations (weighted by turnover) prevail in sale and repair of motor vehicles, in retail sale of automotive fuels and in retail sale of cultural and recreation goods, by size groups, in enterprises employing 20 to 49 people and by regions in Trenčín.

The level of stock (6) increased month-on-month by 3 p.p. and 90 % of respondents assess it to be normal to the season.

22 % of respondents plan to increase requirements for suppliers (by 4 p.p. less than in the survey conducted in December), 24 % of respondents reported a decrease (by 4 p.p. more) and 54 % of enterprises assume a stabilised development, similarly as in December 2020. Compared with December 2020, the final seasonally adjusted balance (11) decreased by 5 p.p. in this indicator.  Respondents will increase orders in retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco and in retail sale of automotive fuels, in enterprises employing 11 to 19 and 100 and more people, by regions mainly in Nitra and Žilina.

When evaluating the expected business activities over the next three months, optimism continued to grow slightly, compared with December 2020, the balance (14) rose by 3 p.p.  An increase of business activities is expected by 27 % of enterprises (by 9 p.p. more than in the last survey), 52 % of enterprises assume a stable development (by 12 p.p. less) and 21 % of respondents expect a decrease (by 3 p.p. more). Positive evaluations prevail in retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco and in retail sale of other goods, by size groups, in enterprises employing 100 and more people and in all regions, except Nitra.

Compared with December 2020, in the employment development, a slight improvement of the situation is assumed by companies, the seasonally adjusted balance rose by 3 p.p. to -2. The majority of respondents (88 %) do not expect any changes, 9 % expect an decrease in the number of employees and 3 % expect an increase of employment. A lower number of employees is expected mainly in retail sale of automotive fuel, retail sale of other goods, in all size groups by the number of employees and similarly in all regions of the SR.

When evaluating the expected development of prices, the majority of respondents (84 %) assume it will remain unchanged, which is by 3 p.p. less than in the previous month. An increase of prices is assumed by 13 % of respondents (by 5 p.p. more than in the survey conducted last month) and a decrease by 3 % of enterprises (by 2 p.p. less). Compared with December 2020, the final balance (7) increased by 4 p.p. A slight increase of prices is expected by respondents in all sectors of retail trade, except the sale of motor vehicles and retail sale of other goods, in all size groups and in all regions.