According to the data of the State Statistical Office, the business situation in December 2012 according to the managers is more satisfactory compared to the previous month, but less satisfactory compared to December 2011. The situation with the present volume of production orders is more satisfactory compared to the previous month. The production volume of the business entities in December 2012 is more satisfactory compared to the previous month; the expectations for the production volume are unfavourable for the next three months, while the expectations for the number of employees are at the same level as in the previous month. The stocks of raw materials and intermediate goods and the purchases of raw materials and intermediate goods in December 2012 are below and around the normal level. The stocks of finished products increased compared to the previous month. The average capacity utilization level of the business entities in December 2012, compared to the previous month, increased to 59.7% of normal utilization. The factors that had the greatest influence on limiting the production volume in December 2012 were: insufficient foreign demand with 21.6%, insufficient domestic demand with 16.0%, financial problems with 14.6% and uncertainty of the economic environment with 9.5%.

Source: State Statistical Office