Latest news with #businessconditions


Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Polish companies worried conditions were worse in Q2, central bank says
WARSAW, July 18 (Reuters) - Polish companies feared business conditions were getting worse in the second quarter, with rising costs of raw materials and supplies seen as the most important barriers to growth, the central bank said. However, the impact of those factors was clearly decreasing, as was the impact of other barriers such as changing regulations, high taxes and fees, or high labour costs, the National Bank of Poland said in a survey published on Friday on business sentiment in the April-June quarter. "The negative impact of low or declining demand remained unchanged. However, uncertainty, related in part to the geopolitical situation, was a barrier that clearly gained significance," the central bank said. While companies fretted about the broader outlook, they reported a significant weakening of price pressures. The percentage of companies which raised their selling prices fell, resulting in a price pressure index at its lowest level in five years. Polish companies also reported a decline in wage pressures, with the percentage of enterprises indicating its intensification falling to the lowest level since the end of 2020, the report showed. The report also showed that the share of companies planning to continue ongoing investments had increased, while the percentage of those initiating new investments had decreased, both quarterly and yearly. Greater investment optimism was noted in the public sector, while it was slightly lower in the private sector. "The plans of foreign companies were particularly pessimistic, with plans to reduce rather than increase their investments within the quarter," the central bank said in the report.


Bloomberg
08-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Australia Business Conditions and Confidence Jump Ahead of RBA Decision
Australian business conditions jumped as sales, profitability and employment surged while confidence also climbed, suggesting a recovery in the corporate sector may be unfolding in line with the Reserve Bank's easing cycle. Business conditions rose 9 points last month to the highest level in more than a year, National Australia Bank Ltd. said in a report on Tuesday. Confidence increased 3 points, its third monthly gain. Forward orders rose 2 points while capacity utilization advanced to 83.3.


Reuters
06-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Egypt's non-oil business conditions deteriorate further in June, PMI shows
July 6 (Reuters) - Egypt's non-oil private sector experienced a further decline in business conditions in June, with contractions in output and new orders accelerating, according to the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data released on Sunday. The headline PMI fell to 48.8 in June from 49.5 in May, marking the fourth consecutive month below the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction. This decline was driven by weaker demand and a sharp reduction in purchasing activity, which saw its steepest drop in 11 months. "June PMI data pointed to another mild decline in the health of the non-oil sector, driven by sustained decreases in incoming new orders and output volumes," said David Owen, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "Overall expectations for future activity were the lowest ever recorded in June, reflecting subdued hopes for order books, as well as concerns that geopolitical risks could cause greater economic disruption." Employment in the non-oil sector also decreased for the fifth month running, though the rate of job shedding was fractional. Firms expressed limited optimism towards future output, with confidence slipping to a record low. On a positive note, input cost pressures softened, leading to a slower rise in output prices and offering some relief to businesses facing inflationary pressures.


Bloomberg
16-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
New York Factory Activity Contracts While Outlook Improves
New York state factory activity shrank in June by more than projected as orders and shipments contracted, though expectations improved. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's general business conditions index declined nearly 7 points to minus 16, marking a fourth straight month of contraction, data showed Monday. Readings below zero indicate contraction. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a reading of minus 6.


Zawya
03-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's PMI rises to 49.5 in May, still below growth threshold
Arab Finance: Business conditions in Egypt's non-oil private sector softened in May, with the latest S&P Global Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) report showing tentative signs of stabilization as contractions in output and new orders eased. The headline PMI rose to 49.5 in May from 48.5 in April, its highest level in three months, but remained below the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction. The latest reading, however, surpassed the long-run average of 48.2, signaling a relative downturn in operating conditions for the third month in a row. Fewer firms reported declines in customer demand during May, leading to only slight reductions in output and new business at slower rates compared to April. Still, companies cut purchasing activity at the fastest pace since October 2024, with total employment falling for a fourth consecutive month. Most job cuts were attributed to not replacing voluntary leavers, with a little change in unfinished business. Input cost inflation accelerated to its highest level this year, driven by rising supplier prices and volatile exchange rates, particularly against the USD. Businesses pointed to higher fuel, cement, and paper costs, while wage expenses increased slightly. In response, selling prices rose sharply in May for seven months, following flatlining in April, as firms passed on part of the cost burden to customers. Despite these challenges, business confidence improved slightly from April. However, expectations for future activity remained historically subdued, with many firms citing persistent inflationary pressures and weak demand as ongoing concerns. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (