Business Sentiment Deteriorates Again

Ljubljana, 25 January (STA) - Business sentiment in Slovenia fell by 2

points in January on the month before to stand at 11 points below the

long-term average due to ongoing concerns in the retail and service

sectors, the Statistics Office said.

While the confidence index in manufacturing gained 2 points on the month

before, indices in retail, construction and services all fell this

month.

The retail index was down by as much as 17 points in January

to stand 12 points below the long-term average, despite the fact that it

gained a point in a year-on-year comparison.

Sentiment in the service

sector was down by 2 points over December. Losing 11 points on January last

year, the index is now 28 points below the long-term average.

The

index for the troubled construction sector, which has risen somewhat in

recent months, lost a point over December. Despite gaining 13 points since

January last year, it is still 27 points below the long-term

average.

Sentiment in manufacturing was the only index to improve on

a monthly level, gaining 2 points to be hovering just above the long-term

average.