Market research company GKI’s business and consumer confidence index increased 1.7 to -12.4 in November after stagnating in October, GKI announced on Monday. The consumer confidence index improved 4.4 to -23.4, but the business confidence index rose only 0.8 to -8.5. The improvement in businesses’ outlook seen since May came to a halt in November. Manufacturing businesses said their positions were unchanged from the previous month, but reported a worsening outlook, along with a decreasing stock of orders, although with a greater proportion of exports within that. Construction industry companies also reported about the same level of business as a month earlier, although they noted improving orders and saw more hires in the future. Trade companies said their situation had worsened since October, but reported more orders and falling stocks.
Consumer confidence was higher than a year before, but slightly lower than at the beginning of 2005. Consumers said their financial situation was better than in October, and expect it to improve further.