In January after the previous growth, the seasonally adjusted confidence indicator in services  decreased again, its value (-24,3) dropped by 7,6 percentage points (p.p.) compared with December. The indicator´s development was affected mainly by more pessimistic expectations of the demand and assessments of the demand over the last three months, while the business situation was evaluated more favourably by the respondents.

Compared with the last month´s survey, the business situation over the past three months slightly improved, the business balance (of seasonally adjusted data) increased by 3 points and reached the level -17. An improvement of the business situation is felt by 18 % enterprises (by 12 p.p. more than in the survey conducted in December), a deterioration was reported by 29 % of respondents (by 4 p.p. more), while 53 % of enterprises (by 16 p.p. less) had a stable development. An improved development was indicated the most considerably in transportation and storage, as well as in professional, scientific and technical activities; a deterioration of the situation was registered mainly in accommodation and food service activities and in other service activities. Compared with the last month´s survey, the demand for the services over the past three months (-35) decreased by 7 points. The decrease of the demand was recorded mainly in the field of accommodation and food service activities, in arts, entertainment and recreation, a lower interest was recorded also in financial and insurance activities, as well as in administrative and support service activities; on the contrary, an improvement was registered mostly in transportation and storage. The expected development of the demand for services over the next three months was evaluated negatively by respondents, the seasonally adjusted business balance (-21) decreased by 19 points. A lower demand is expected almost in all sectors, mostly though, in arts, entertainment and recreation; the only exception is transportation and storage where a slight improvement is expected. 17 % of enterprises increased the number of their employees over the past three months (by 6 p.p. more than in December), 29 % of enterprises (by 1 p.p. less) reported a decrease and 54 % of enterprises had a stable development (by 5 p.p. less). The final seasonally adjusted balance (-15) increased by 12 p.p. compared with the previous month, indicating an iimprovement of the employment situation. The number of employees increased the most in financial and insurance service activities; a lower number of employees was registered in transportation and storage and in other service activities. In the development of the employment over the next three months, a slight deterioration of the situation is expected, the business balance (-15) decreased by 2 points, compared with the previous month. A lower number of employees is assumed mainly in administration and support service activities; a higher number of employees is considered mainly in the field of real estates. Compared with the previous period, the business balance of the expected prices of services over the next three months (-7) increased by 2 points while an increase of prices is considered by 3 % of enterprises (by 2 p.p. less than in  December), 3 % of enterprises (by 1 p.p. less) expect a decrease and 94 % of enterprises (by 3 p.p.more) assume a stable development. 18 % of respondents do not feel any limiting factors in realising the business plans. The most significant factors limiting the business plans in service have been  insufficient demand (43 %), financial constraints (23 %) and other barriers (39 %), within other barriers respondents reported most often: frequent legislative changes, unfavourable business environment for the small and medium-sized enterprises but mainly the adverse situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Respondents reported they used capacities in services to 92 % in January.