In February, the seasonally adjusted confidence indicator in services decreased, its value (9) dropped by 6,7 percentage points (p.p.), compared with January. The indicator´s development was affected by more negative evaluations of all its three components, while the expected demand was the most pessimistically evaluated by the respondents.

Compared with the last month´s survey, the business situation over the past three months slightly deteriorated, the business balance (of seasonally adjusted data) decreased by 1 point and reached the level 5. A deterioration of the business situation is felt by 17% enterprises (by 5 p.p. less than in January), 14% of respondents reported an improvement (by 13 p.p. less), 69% of enterprises (by 18 p.p. more) had a stable development. Respondents were less satisfied mainly in transportation and storage, in professional, scientific and technical activities, in administrative and support service activities; an improvement was registered mostly in arts, entertainment and recreation.

Compared with the last month´s survey, the demand for the services over the past three months (10) decreased by 2 points. A decrease of the demand was felt almost in all groups, mainly though in transportation and storage, in administrative and support service activities, as well as in professional, scientific and technical activities; an increased demand was recorded only in real estate activities and in information and communication.

The expected development of the demand for services over the next three months was evaluated with greater concerns, the seasonally adjusted business balance (12) decreased by 17 points.  A lower demand is expected in information and communication, in financial and insurance activities, in transportation and storage, as well as in other service activities; on the contrary, greater interest is assumed in administrative and support service activities, in arts, entertainment and recreation, as well as in the field of real estates and in accommodation and food service activities.

18% of enterprises increased the number of their employees over the past three months (by 3 p.p. more than in January), 35% of enterprises reported a decrease (by 1 p.p. less), 47% of enterprises had a stable development (by 2 p.p. less).

Compared with the previous month, the final seasonally adjusted balance (-23) rose by 3 p.p., indicating a slight improvement of the employment situation. The number of employees increased mainly in financial and insurance activities; lower number of employees were mainly in the field of arts, entertainment and recreation.

In the development of the employment over the next three months, a slight deterioration of the situation is assumed, the business balance (7) decreased by 2 points, compared with the previous month. A lower number of employees is assumed mainly in financial and insurance activities, on the contrary, higher number of employees is planned mainly in real estate activities.

Compared with the previous period, the business balance of the expected prices of services over the next three months (27) rose by 5 p.p. while a price rise is considered by 30% of enterprises (similarly as in January), a price drop is assumed  by 4% of enterprises (by 2 p.p. more), 66% of enterprises (by 2 p.p. less) assume a stable development.