Business survey Netherlands; to sector/branches

Table explanation

Description topics

Production and capacity utilisation

The weighted response rates to the questions:
- "The level of production/activity in the last three months has increased, remained unchanged or decreased?"
- "The level of production/activity in the next three months will increase, remain unchanged or decrease?"
- "The occupation/use of our available production capacity is currently around ...%"
- "We assess the current production capacity, given the expected market development as (too) large, normal or (too) small?"

Capacity utilisation

For the branches mining and quarrying and manufacturing this is the weighted percentage to the question: ‘The capacity utilisation for our production/transport is currently around…%’

For the branches within wholesale and retail trade and services, a derived percentage is calculated, which is similar to the capacity utilisation and comes from the following question: ‘If demand expanded, could you increase your volume of activity with your present resources? Yes/No. If yes, by how much (%)?

Orders (intake and placed)

The weighted response rates to the questions:
- "The value of the total orders received in the last three months increased, remained unchanged or decreased?"
- "The value of the intake of orders in the next three months will increase, remaine unchanged or decrease?"
- "The value of the intake of export orders in the next three months will increase, remain unchanged or decrease?"
- "The value of the orders we expect to place with suppliers in the next three months will increase, remain unchanged or decrease?"
- "The total order book shows - during normal working hours - ... months of work?"
- "The total order position, we assess, given the time of year as (too) large, normal or (too) small?"
- "The foreign order books, we assess, given the time of the years, as (too) large, normal or (too) small?"

Order position

Number of months of work in hand

Order position in months of work in hand

Weighted number of months of work in hand as a result of the monthly question:
- "The total order position assures or business - by normal working hours - ... months of work?"

Increase of activity by expansion demand

Weighted response rates to the question:
- "If the demand expanded, could you increase your volume of activity with your present resources? Yes/No? If so, by how much?"

Yes

The weighted percentage of entrepreneurs who answered yes to the question if they could increase the volume of their activity with the present resources when demand expanded.

Increase in volume of activity

The percentage extent to which entrepreneurs can increase the volume of their activity with the present resources when demand expanded.

Factors limiting production

The weighted response rates to the question:
- "Our production/business experience barriers:
1 - no barriers,
2 - insufficient demand,
3 - shortage of labour force,
4 - shortages of production equipment, materials, commodities, (retail) space,
5 - financial constraints,
6 - weather conditions,
7 - other causes?"

Insufficient demand

Weighted response rate of producers at the beginning of the quarter indicating that insufficient demand is a barrier for their activities.

Shortage of material and/or equipment

Weighted response rate of producers at the beginning of the quarter indicating that lack equipment or facilities/space/resources/materials is a barrier for their activities.