CE Barometer July 2013: Summer slump

July saw a slowdown in European construction activity according to the results of the CE Barometer survey. While this could be put down to the start of the holiday seasn, it is normally a time when construction activity remains high thanks to good weather.

However, a negative balance of -9.9% of respondents said activity was down month on month. This was a reversal of the results of the June survey, which saw a positive balance of +9.3% of respondents say activity was up. The balance figure is the percentage of positive responses, minus the number of negative ones.

On the positive side, there was once again strong sentiment about the future. A balance of +25.3% of respondents said they expected activity levels to be higher in a year’s time,. This was a significant improvement from June’s figure of +13%, and took this measure of confidence back into the +20% to +30% range, where it has been for most of the year.

On the down side, a negative balance of -14.3% of respondents said business was worse in July than a year ago, the 17^th straight month that this measure of confidence has been in negative territory.

As a result of these mixed figures, the CE Climate, a composite measure of confidence was only marginally in the balance, with a balance of +0.4%, once again indicating how flat the European market is at present.

Take part

The survey, which takes just a one minute to complete, is open to all construction professionals working in Europe. The CE Barometer survey is open from the 1st to the 15^th of each month on our website. Full information can be found at www.cebarometer.eu