Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
The figure currently exceeds the level seen over the same period of last year by 5.3 points, but is still 2.7 points below the long-term average, the Slovak Statistics Office (ŠÚ) reported on April 28.
As for individual sectors, the indicator of trust in industry increased by 5.7 points m-o-m to 6, returning to the figure seen in February and exceeding the long-term average by 4 points. The indicator was influenced by growth in orders and expected rises in production over the next three months.
Meanwhile, the indicator of confidence in construction went up by 3 points m-o-m to -13, which was facilitated by more favourable evaluations of the expected employment rate and the level of orders. The current figure is 15 points above the long-term average. The indicator of trust in trade reached 14.7, rising by 1.4 percentage points m-o-m. This was thanks to positive evaluations of current business activities.
As regards the indicator of trust in services, this figure remained at the level seen in March (7.7). The indicator was affected by positive assessments of the business situation, while current and expected demand was evaluated in a negative light, the TASR newswire quoted from the ŠÚ.
The mood among consumers improved in April, with the respective indicator going up by 1.3 points to -7.3, which is the highest level seen since July 2008.
