In October compared with September, confidence indicator in trade dropped by 5,3 percentage points (p.p.) to 3 mostly due to negative evaluations of the expected business activities (from seasonally adjusted data).

88 % of respondents assessed the trend in business activities over the past three months as favourable or unchanged. The seasonally adjusted balance (14) increased by 4 p.p. compared with September. Positive evaluations (weighted by turnover) prevail in retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco; by size groups, in enterprises employing 11 to 19 people and 100 and more people, and in all regions, except Trnava, Trenčín and Nitra. The level of stock (4) decreased by 2 p.p., month-on-month and 92 % of respondents assess it to be normal to the season. 35 % of respondents plan to increase requirements for suppliers (by 3 p.p. less than in the survey conducted in September), 20 % of respondents reported a decrease (by 12 p.p. more) and 45 % of enterprises assume a stabilised development (by 9 p.p. less). The final seasonally adjusted balance (10) decreased by 14 p.p. in this indicator. Respondents will increase orders in retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco and in retail sale of other goods, in all size groups and in all regions except Trenčín and Košice. When evaluating the expected business activities over the next three months, respondents were more pessimistic than last month, therefore the balance in October (-1) decreased by 22 p.p. An increase of business activities is expected by 24 % of enterprises (by 10 p.p. less than in the survey conducted in September), 53 % of enterprises assume a stable development (by 7 p.p. less) and a decrease is expected by 23 % of respondents (by 17 p.p. more). In spite of that, positive evaluations prevail in all sectors of retail sale, except automotive fuels, in all size groups except enterprises employing 11 to 19 people and in all regions, except Bratislava, Prešov and Košice. Compared with September, a deterioration in the employment development is expected, the seasonally adjusted balance decreased by 4 p.p, to -3. The majority of respondents (83 %) do not consider any changes, 10 % assume an increase of the employment and 7 % expect a decrease in the number of employees. Employees are not expected to be hired in all sectors of retail trade, except retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco, retail sale of other goods, in all size groups except enterprises employing 100 and more people. In territorial terms, the number of employees will not expected to be increased in all regions, except Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra and Žilina. When evaluating the expected development of prices, the majority of respondents (83 %) assume it will remain unchanged, which is by 2 p.p. more than in the previous month. An increase of prices is assumed by 13 % of respondents (by 3 p.p. less than in the survey conducted in September) and a decrease by 4 % of enterprises (by 1 p.p. more). The final balance (9) decreased by 1 p.p. compared with the previous month. In spite of that, a price increase is expected by respondents in all sectors of retail trade, except the sale and repair of motor vehicles and in all size groups. In territorial terms, a price rise is assumed by respondents in all regions, except Trenčín.