Consumers and businesses remain optimistic in February – publico

                 

                         
                     

                         

                 

 
 

The confidence indicator for consumers increased in January and February, after having declined between October and January, “continuing the upward trend observed since early 2013,” said Friday the National Statistics Institute (INE) .

the economic climate indicator “increased slightly”, confirming that the Portuguese are more optimistic early this year. This recovery in the past two months reflected “the positive contribution of all components”, as the outlook for the evolution of the financial situation of the household and the economic situation. INE refers even if “the balance of expectations regarding the evolution of the household financial situation continued the upward trend observed since the beginning of 2013, reaching the highest level since September 2000.”

The index also reflected an improved outlook on issues such as savings and unemployment, “more significant in the latter case in February,” said the INE.

“the prospects for the development of the economic situation of the country recovered the last two months , interrupting the downward movement observed since May, “said the entity responsible for national statistics. Still, “the balance of views on the development of the economic situation of the country decreased tenuously in February, while not moving away from the level that is relatively stable since October,” the statement from the INE.

the data also indicate that in February also improved confidence in the Construction and Public Works, the trade and services, verifying a stabilization in manufacturing industry, after slight increases in the previous two months.

INE said that in the case of Construction and Public Works, after an increase between November and January, improved agents’ expectations as to job creation and growth in the order book.

the confidence indicator the manufacturing industry stabilized in February, after increasing slightly in the previous two months. Although the assessments on the stocks of finished products and production prospects have made a positive contribution, the balance of views on global demand declined.

The confidence indicator trade also increased in February (after a fall in January) due to “positive behavior of business expectations and opinions on the volume of stocks .”

in the case of services , there was a slight improvement (after decreases between October and January) “reflecting the positive contribution of opinions and perspectives on the evolution of the order book,” said the INE.