In September, the confidence indicator in industry increased by 1,7 p.p. to 0,7 after seasonal adjustment. The indicator´s development was influenced mainly by the expected increase of the production in the next three months.
In September compared with August, the industrial production trend dropped by 18 p.p. to -17 which is the lowest value since July 2020. A decrease was registered mainly in manufacture of food, wood and paper products and basic metal and fabricated metal products. On the contrary, an increase of the industrial production was reported mainly in manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, other non-metallic products and electrical equipment. The balance of the aggregate orders dropped by 1 p.p. to 0. A deteriorating level of orders (weighted by production) was recorded more considerably in manufacture of textiles and apparel, food and electrical equipment; by size groups in enterprises employing 250 to 499 people and by regions in Prešov and Košice. There was an improvement mainly in the chemical industry. Compared with August, the balance of foreign orders decreased by 1 p.p. to 3. A deteriorating level of orders was stated mainly in manufacture of other non-metallic products and food. On the contrary, an improvement was observed mainly in the chemical industry. In September, the balance of the finished goods stock remained at the same level as in August (21). Increased goods stocks are indicated mainly in the chemical industry. The majority of respondents consider the goods stock to be sufficient. Lower stocks of goods were mainly in textiles and apparel. Compared with the previous month, the balance of the industrial production over the next three months increased by 6 p.p. to 23. An increase of the production is assumed mainly in manufacture of transport equipment and textiles and apparel; by size groups in enterprises employing 1 000 and more people and by regions mainly in Žilina. A decrease of the production is expected mainly in manufacture of food and other manufacture, repair and installations. In September, the balance of expected prices of industrial products increased by 1 p.p. to 11. They expect an increase of prices mainly in the chemical industry; by size groups, in enterprises employing 1 000 and more people and by regions mainly in Nitra. On the contrary, a price drop is assumed mainly in manufacture of wood and paper products and other manufacture, repair and installations. In September compared with August, the balance of employment rose by 2 p.p. to 11. An increase in the number of employees is assumed mainly in manufacture of wood and paper products and machinery and equipment n.e.c; by size groups in enterprises employing 250 to 499 people and by regions mainly in Trnava and Prešov. On the contrary, they expect a decrease in the number of employees mainly in manufacture of metals and fabricated metal products and other non-metallic products; by size groups in enterprises employing 500 to 999 employees and by regions in Nitra and Banská Bystrica. 70 % of respondents expect the employment to be stabilized.
The overall data are seasonally adjusted and the data by sectors are not seasonally adjusted, therefore it may result in an unusual development in the comparison of these indicators and of the situation in which we currently find ourselves.