In December, the GKI economic index rose to a nine-month high

The GKI business confidence index – after a 3-point increase in November – rose within the margin of error by 1 point in December. In the first winter month, trade and construction improved significantly, industry slightly improved, while business service sector outlooks remained virtually unchanged compared to November. In industry, the assessment of the entire order book became more favorable, self-produced stocks decreased, but the expected production outlook for the next 3 months worsened on a monthly basis. In the construction industry, the evaluation of the order book significantly improved, and the employment expectation slightly improved. In the trade, the level of stocks decreased only slightly, but the satisfaction with the course of business in the previous 3 months and the perception of the orders expected in the next 3 months improved noticeably. In the service sector, the assessment of the business performance of the previous three months changed in a favorable direction, but the turnover and employment expectations for the next 3 months worsened somewhat compared to November.

The GKI consumer confidence index – after the uncertainty in November – increased noticeably in December, and this indicator rose to a 20-month record high. The population assessed their own financial situation in the last 12 months as having improved compared to the previous month, while the financial outlook for the next 12 months has hardly changed. The perception of one’s own money that can be spent on high-value consumer goods became more favorable than it was in November.