Economic Report of the
Shopfitting Industry in
ISO
Congress 28.04.07:
In 2006:
-
General
Income rate was 2.1 % in
-
Unemployment
rate had been decreasing during all the year, and finish with 8,6 % in the end
of 2006. It is 8.4 % at end of February 2007
-
Inflation
rate was 1.5 %
-
Balance
of exchange was very bad with a deficit of
27 billions Euros
-
Interest
rate is low but increasing : 4.5 % for
short and long terms
We expect
for 2007:
-
General
Income rate of 2.1 %
-
Unemployment
in decrease
-
Inflation
rate at around 2 %
-
Still
a deficit for commercial exchanges
BUILDING ACTIVITY
2006 was an
excellent year for building activity with an increase of 4.9 %
We observed
an increase in all sector with a rate of:
+ 9.7 % for house buildings
+ 13.5 % for offices
+ 6.4 %, for industrial and
commercial buildings
This sector
of activity had increase the number of employees by 35 000 people although
it is very difficult to find qualify manual workers
In 2007 we
expect a good year again with a rate of increase slowing down.
SHOPFITTING
Good year
for this sector in 2006 and very good perspectives in 2007, although increase
rate for new undertake in commercial building was expected slowly decreasing
But
renewing of shops is very important due to the necessity to change the Concept
of shop more often (Every 4 or 6 years), which means a very good activity for
shopfitters. Unfortunately the level of sale price does not increase because
the competition is hard with entrance of foreigner companies to manufacture of shopfitting.
At
opposite, purchase prices are increasing (Particularly for glass, metal work,
and also wood) due to the good conjuncture. But the French companies are using
more and more outsourcing, more particularly in
Concluding comment by Francois Mathéron
president
CFA, vice president of ISO:
Concept
changes of chain stores are more and more frequent, which is good for the
shopfitting industry. Every 4 years is becoming common.
Questions
answered: The export figures are not available but small. The total market of
our business is estimated at 5 bio Euro per year
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