Insee
Informations Rapides · 25 April 2025 · n° 102
Informations rapidesIn April 2025, the business climate has strongly retreated in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles Monthly survey of retailing - April 2025

In April 2025, the business climate has strongly retreated in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles overall. At 95, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost five points and has left its long-term average (100). This drop is mainly due to the decrease in the balances related to the general business outlook and the ordering intentions.

Informations rapides
No 102
Paru le :Paru le25/04/2025
Prochaine parution le : 22/05/2025 at 08:45 - May 2025

In April 2025, the business climate has strongly retreated in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles overall. At 95, the indicator that synthesizes it has lost five points and has left its long-term average (100). This drop is mainly due to the decrease in the balances related to the general business outlook and the ordering intentions.

Composite indicator

Composite indicator
Business climate synthetic indicator
2025-04 94.8
2025-03 100.0
2025-02 97.2
2025-01 96.8
2024-12 96.6
2024-11 98.4
2024-10 99.3
2024-09 100.1
2024-08 97.3
2024-07 94.1
2024-06 99.4
2024-05 100.9
2024-04 102.2
2024-03 101.3
2024-02 100.5
2024-01 104.1
2023-12 99.9
2023-11 97.1
2023-10 98.4
2023-09 102.7
2023-08 103.2
2023-07 104.4
2023-06 101.4
2023-05 98.0
2023-04 100.7
2023-03 98.0
2023-02 101.3
2023-01 99.9
2022-12 99.4
2022-11 96.8
2022-10 98.0
2022-09 96.5
2022-08 97.6
2022-07 94.5
2022-06 94.1
2022-05 95.4
2022-04 91.3
2022-03 99.6
2022-02 107.1
2022-01 104.8
2021-12 107.7
2021-11 109.2
2021-10 106.8
2021-09 108.1
2021-08 108.8
2021-07 114.2
2021-06 115.7
2021-05 108.2
2021-04 91.8
2021-03 96.7
2021-02 89.9
2021-01 94.0
2020-12 93.7
2020-11 70.5
2020-10 98.4
2020-09 98.1
2020-08 94.5
2020-07 90.0
2020-06 85.4
2020-05 60.6
2020-04 57.6
2020-03 93.2
2020-02 107.7
2020-01 106.8
2019-12 109.2
2019-11 107.0
2019-10 106.7
2019-09 107.3
2019-08 100.4
2019-07 106.6
2019-06 104.0
2019-05 105.2
2019-04 108.4
2019-03 104.6
2019-02 103.3
2019-01 101.5
2018-12 99.7
2018-11 107.2
2018-10 107.3
2018-09 110.4
2018-08 113.8
2018-07 114.8
2018-06 113.4
2018-05 113.6
2018-04 114.0
2018-03 114.1
2018-02 117.0
2018-01 117.1
2017-12 116.7
2017-11 116.4
2017-10 117.2
2017-09 113.8
2017-08 111.4
2017-07 112.3
2017-06 111.4
2017-05 107.3
2017-04 105.9
2017-03 108.3
2017-02 108.0
2017-01 109.3
2016-12 108.6
2016-11 103.3
2016-10 102.1
2016-09 103.0
2016-08 104.9
2016-07 104.7
2016-06 104.3
2016-05 106.5
2016-04 103.1
2016-03 104.2
2016-02 102.7
2016-01 104.4
2015-12 101.8
2015-11 105.5
2015-10 108.7
2015-09 106.3
2015-08 107.1
2015-07 103.4
2015-06 104.6
2015-05 103.4
2015-04 103.5
2015-03 102.5
2015-02 102.5
2015-01 99.1
2014-12 94.4
2014-11 92.8
2014-10 89.1
2014-09 88.3
2014-08 90.4
2014-07 96.9
2014-06 94.6
2014-05 96.4
2014-04 96.5
2014-03 95.4
2014-02 94.6
2014-01 95.2
2013-12 93.9
2013-11 92.0
2013-10 95.4
2013-09 97.9
2013-08 93.4
2013-07 85.0
2013-06 84.9
2013-05 83.2
2013-04 84.3
2013-03 86.3
2013-02 89.6
2013-01 84.6
2012-12 87.8
2012-11 88.1
2012-10 87.2
2012-09 85.6
2012-08 91.0
2012-07 89.2
2012-06 93.1
2012-05 90.8
2012-04 96.0
2012-03 93.2
2012-02 90.6
2012-01 88.0
2011-12 92.9
2011-11 93.9
2011-10 94.6
2011-09 93.9
2011-08 98.3
2011-07 101.4
2011-06 102.1
2011-05 104.1
2011-04 103.3
2011-03 103.9
2011-02 106.8
2011-01 107.0
2010-12 108.2
2010-11 104.5
2010-10 107.9
2010-09 106.2
2010-08 106.6
2010-07 101.2
2010-06 101.3
2010-05 102.0
2010-04 103.4
2010-03 97.8
2010-02 98.7
2010-01 98.2
2009-12 96.5
2009-11 98.3
2009-10 92.7
2009-09 90.3
2009-08 87.3
2009-07 85.9
2009-06 79.2
2009-05 80.2
2009-04 75.0
2009-03 82.5
2009-02 78.0
2009-01 77.1
2008-12 75.7
2008-11 84.1
2008-10 80.3
2008-09 96.7
2008-08 93.0
2008-07 95.4
2008-06 99.7
2008-05 103.5
2008-04 103.7
2008-03 110.1
2008-02 109.2
2008-01 110.5
2007-12 115.1
2007-11 113.1
2007-10 111.8
2007-09 112.1
2007-08 115.6
2007-07 117.7
2007-06 121.1
2007-05 115.0
2007-04 113.8
2007-03 111.4
2007-02 112.9
2007-01 107.9
2006-12 108.6
2006-11 111.2
2006-10 112.0
2006-09 110.6
2006-08 110.0
2006-07 108.3
2006-06 107.9
2006-05 105.5
2006-04 103.7
2006-03 102.4
2006-02 102.8
2006-01 103.2
2005-12 104.3
2005-11 99.7
2005-10 101.9
2005-09 99.4
2005-08 97.9
2005-07 95.9
2005-06 98.1
2005-05 101.4
2005-04 103.8
2005-03 104.4
2005-02 103.9
2005-01 106.2

Composite indicator

  • Source: INSEE.

The balances of opinion related to the general business outlook and to the ordering intentions have strongly dropped

In April 2025, the balance related to the general business outlook has strongly retreated and has moved below its long-term average. The balance on the ordering intentions has sharply plummeted and has also moved below its own. The balances on the past and expected sales have also gone down anew and have moved away from their long-term average.

The balance of opinion associated with the expected change in the workforce size has diminished again slightly and has moved away from its long-term average. The one on their past change has declined as well and has also moved away below its own.

The balance associated with the current level of stocks has slightly retreated and has moved closer to its average.

The balance of opinion on the expected selling prices is stable above its average.

Lastly, the balance on the felt economic uncertainty has increased again.

Tendency in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Tendency in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) Jan. 25 Feb. 25 Mar. 25 Apr. 25
Business climate 100 97 97 100 95
General business outlook -27 -26 -27 -22 -30
Recent sales -9 -8 -21 -16 -21
Expected sales -4 -11 -9 -7 -11
Ordering intentions -9 -13 -10 -7 -12
Stocks 10 15 13 15 14
Past selling prices (2) -3 -2 - 2 -
Expected selling prices 0 2 0 3 3
Cash position (2) -15 -19 - -23 -
Past workforce size -1 -8 -9 -9 -11
Expected workforce size -4 -10 -8 -11 -12
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 37 32 33 34 36
  • (1) Average since 1991 (except 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions, and April 2021 for uncertainty felt).
  • (2) Bimonthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • (3) Non-seasonally adjusted balance.
  • Source: INSEE - monthly survey in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles.

Recent sales and ordering intentions

Recent sales and ordering intentions
Ordering intentions Recent sales
2025-04 -11.7 -21.2
2025-03 -6.6 -15.6
2025-02 -10.1 -20.5
2025-01 -13.5 -8.1
2024-12 -10.8 -14.1
2024-11 -12.7 -7.3
2024-10 -10.1 -12.6
2024-09 -11.3 -9.3
2024-08 -11.9 -15.1
2024-07 -15.4 -18.2
2024-06 -8.6 -15.3
2024-05 -9.2 -10.4
2024-04 -8.1 -5.3
2024-03 -8.4 -9.8
2024-02 -7.6 -13.5
2024-01 -6.4 -0.9
2023-12 -12.4 -11.9
2023-11 -14.8 -14.5
2023-10 -12.4 -5.4
2023-09 -8.3 1.0
2023-08 -10.9 6.0
2023-07 -8.5 -1.3
2023-06 -8.8 -8.1
2023-05 -13.6 -5.6
2023-04 -10.3 -1.1
2023-03 -14.5 -4.6
2023-02 -9.1 -1.4
2023-01 -12.0 5.9
2022-12 -9.5 -0.7
2022-11 -15.4 2.0
2022-10 -9.9 -3.1
2022-09 -14.6 -5.6
2022-08 -10.5 -12.7
2022-07 -10.6 -20.3
2022-06 -13.0 -15.6
2022-05 -12.4 -13.0
2022-04 -17.8 -18.4
2022-03 -4.6 -11.3
2022-02 -2.0 -7.3
2022-01 -3.5 -5.0
2021-12 -1.1 -5.7
2021-11 -0.5 -11.3
2021-10 -5.1 -18.1
2021-09 -2.5 -11.8
2021-08 0.0 10.7
2021-07 3.5 0.5
2021-06 0.8 -1.5
2021-05 -5.1 -10.8
2021-04 -14.3 -7.1
2021-03 -8.1 -15.3
2021-02 -14.5 -14.3
2021-01 -13.5 -5.4
2020-12 -11.1 -21.4
2020-11 -36.8 7.6
2020-10 -0.5 -2.6
2020-09 -6.2 6.0
2020-08 -8.5 -10.2
2020-07 -7.8 -41.8
2020-06 -13.6 -47.8
2020-05 -44.9 -56.3
2020-04 -54.6 -3.9
2020-03 -12.4 -3.6
2020-02 -0.1 1.3
2020-01 -3.2 10.8
2019-12 1.2 -1.4
2019-11 -1.2 -5.8
2019-10 -3.2 -6.6
2019-09 -3.0 0.4
2019-08 -13.3 -5.2
2019-07 -2.6 -3.7
2019-06 -7.6 -9.1
2019-05 -4.4 -10.9
2019-04 2.3 -12.9
2019-03 -2.7 -17.4
2019-02 -5.9 -10.3
2019-01 -7.0 -9.4
2018-12 -6.0 -8.9
2018-11 -0.9 -6.7
2018-10 -2.4 -8.3
2018-09 1.9 1.9
2018-08 7.7 0.3
2018-07 6.6 -2.1
2018-06 5.6 -8.7
2018-05 4.4 -6.8
2018-04 3.8 -9.9
2018-03 1.8 -7.9
2018-02 4.2 4.7
2018-01 5.5 1.6
2017-12 5.4 1.5
2017-11 7.6 -4.9
2017-10 9.8 -0.5
2017-09 2.3 -1.6
2017-08 -0.8 -1.0
2017-07 -1.4 5.5
2017-06 -1.0 -5.9
2017-05 -3.2 -5.5
2017-04 -3.5 -11.9
2017-03 0.2 -1.8
2017-02 -0.4 4.2
2017-01 1.5 1.0
2016-12 -0.1 -1.2
2016-11 -9.2 -6.3
2016-10 -8.2 -10.7
2016-09 -6.1 -10.5
2016-08 -3.9 -4.1
2016-07 -5.1 -5.1
2016-06 -3.7 -4.0
2016-05 -3.8 4.8
2016-04 -8.7 1.5
2016-03 -3.5 -5.2
2016-02 -6.8 -9.2
2016-01 -6.1 -4.9
2015-12 -5.2 -15.3
2015-11 -3.5 3.0
2015-10 0.3 4.4
2015-09 -2.6 1.6
2015-08 -1.5 8.0
2015-07 -6.3 -0.6
2015-06 -1.3 -8.3
2015-05 -3.0 -4.4
2015-04 -2.2 -2.6
2015-03 -3.3 -5.4
2015-02 -1.9 -4.3
2015-01 -4.9 -8.6
2014-12 -12.7 -10.2
2014-11 -13.6 -14.7
2014-10 -16.8 -23.7
2014-09 -18.4 -30.6
2014-08 -17.3 -19.8
2014-07 -10.3 -5.9
2014-06 -13.8 -11.9
2014-05 -11.3 -14.8
2014-04 -9.6 -21.3
2014-03 -11.1 -16.9
2014-02 -13.3 -13.1
2014-01 -12.7 -10.7
2013-12 -15.2 -10.6
2013-11 -13.5 -12.9
2013-10 -13.4 -11.5
2013-09 -7.5 -12.8
2013-08 -13.4 -18.3
2013-07 -23.1 -26.0
2013-06 -19.4 -24.4
2013-05 -21.7 -29.8
2013-04 -19.6 -31.8
2013-03 -17.1 -25.9
2013-02 -14.0 -27.2
2013-01 -25.5 -17.3
2012-12 -17.7 -21.2
2012-11 -18.5 -16.4
2012-10 -19.3 -23.0
2012-09 -21.7 -23.8
2012-08 -15.1 -8.3
2012-07 -15.4 -19.5
2012-06 -12.9 -18.3
2012-05 -16.8 -14.8
2012-04 -13.7 -8.1
2012-03 -16.0 -12.3
2012-02 -15.4 -15.4
2012-01 -19.9 -20.3
2011-12 -13.9 -17.5
2011-11 -12.6 -13.0
2011-10 -13.5 -15.7
2011-09 -13.1 -17.4
2011-08 -11.3 -6.5
2011-07 -11.6 -9.4
2011-06 -11.4 0.1
2011-05 -7.9 3.6
2011-04 -7.2 1.7
2011-03 -5.8 -6.4
2011-02 -2.4 1.6
2011-01 -1.8 4.3
2010-12 -1.3 4.1
2010-11 -4.9 -8.0
2010-10 1.3 -3.9
2010-09 -2.3 -1.8
2010-08 -1.6 4.0
2010-07 -7.9 -5.3
2010-06 -4.7 -1.0
2010-05 -7.0 2.1
2010-04 -4.5 -2.7
2010-03 -10.0 -20.1
2010-02 -9.9 -13.0
2010-01 -13.4 -4.7

Recent sales and ordering intentions

  • Source: INSEE.

The general business outlook has deteriorated more strongly in trade and repair of motor vehicles than in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles)

In April 2025, the balance associated with the general business outlook has retreated very strongly in trade and repair of motor vehicles where it has moved clearly below its average. In retail trade, it has retreated a little less strongly and has reached its own.

The balance associated with the ordering intentions has strongly retreated in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles) where it has almost reached its average, while it has retreated more slightly in trade and repair of motor vehicles where it has moved away from its own.

The balance associated with the past sales has sharply retreated in retail trade (excluding motor vehicles), and more strongly in trade and repair of motor vehicles. In both sub-sectors, it has moved away from its average.

Balances of opinion by sub-sector in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles

Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.
Balances of opinion by sub-sector in retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles (Balances of opinion, in %, S.A.)
Ave. (1) Jan. 25 Feb. 25 Mar. 25 Apr. 25
Retail trade
General business outlook -28 -24 -27 -21 -28
Recent sales -8 1 -18 -15 -19
Expected sales -2 -8 -7 -2 -7
Ordering intentions -9 -12 -5 -1 -8
Stocks 10 14 11 12 12
Past selling prices (2) -5 -3 - 6 -
Expected selling prices -2 5 4 9 7
Cash position (2) -14 -20 - -24 -
Past workforce size 0 -9 -12 -10 -12
Expected workforce size -4 -12 -9 -13 -14
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 35 32 33 34 36
Trade and repair of motor vehicles
General business outlook -25 -32 -29 -24 -35
Recent sales -10 -26 -25 -16 -25
Expected sales -8 -18 -15 -18 -21
Ordering intentions -11 -17 -20 -17 -19
Stocks 12 19 18 19 18
Past selling prices (2) 4 -1 - -4 -
Expected selling prices 6 -4 -8 -8 -5
Cash position (2) -21 -16 - -22 -
Past workforce size -7 -5 0 -6 -6
Expected workforce size -5 -5 -4 -6 -5
Economic uncertainty felt (3) 41 31 32 34 36
  • (1) Average since 1991 for retail trade and 2003 for trade and repair of motor vehicles (except 2004 for recent and expected sales and ordering intentions, and April 2021 for uncertainty felt).
  • (2) Bimonthly question (odd-numbered months).
  • (3) Non-seasonally adjusted balance.
  • Source: INSEE - monthly survey in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles.

Revisions

The business climate for March 2025 in retail trade (including trade and repair of motor vehicles) has not been revised (after rounding).

For more information

The whole sector “retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles” is composed for 66% of retail trade and for 34% of trade and repair of motor vehicles.

For the three-modality questions, a balance of opinion is the difference between weighted percentage of “increase” or “above normal” answers and weighted percentage of “decrease” or “below normal” answers.

This survey is part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.

The responses of this survey were collected between 27 March and 22 April 2025; most companies answer during the first two weeks of collection.

Next issue: 22 May 2025 at 8:45 am.

Pour en savoir plus

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