PARIS (MktNews) - The sales outlook of French retailers fell back "a bit" in March but remained "at a high level," the national statistics institute Insee said Tuesday, citing the seasonally adjusted results of its monthly sector survey.
The overall sales outlook fell back four points to -4 after a four-point decline in February. (The diffusion index posted a near-term peak of +8 in July after an all-time high of +12 in December 1999.)
Inventories fell back in March, especially for specialized retailers, after a rise in February. They are now at their long-term average, Insee said.
Order plans also declined across the board, led by household equipment and appliances, but remained well above average, Insee said.
The sector price outlook eroded across the board after an improvement for general retailers in February and a decline for specialized retailers.
Specialized retailers reported a sales decline in February and March, but overall sales levels remain "buoyant", Insee said.
Retailers' views on sector employment rose to an all-time high in March and their outlook for future hiring remained stable.