Confidence of trade and service enterprises

The seasonally adjusted market services confidence indicator increased to 82.4 in March (from 79.2 in February 2012). The index improved in Business services and other services (to 84.2), in Tourism services (to 82.1), in Transportation and storage (to 76.0), in Information and communication (to 85.4). On a regional basis, confidence worsened in only North East (to 81.4) and increased in the North West (to 83.0) , in the Centre (to 80.4) and in the South (to 93.4).

The seasonally adjusted retail trade confidence indicator increased to 83.6 in March (from 81.5 in February). The confidence declined slightly for small and medium scale distribution to 92.7 (from 93.0), while it extended its upward path for large scale distribution (rising to 76.0 from 68.7 of the previous month).