European Commission - Press release

March 2012: Business Climate Indicator decreased in March

Brussels, 29 March 2012 - In March 2012, the Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area decreased by 0.14 points to -0.30. The decline was mainly driven by a more negative assessment of production expectations, order books and past production. Managers' assessment of their stocks of finished products remained broadly unchanged, while export order books were assessed slightly more positively.

The BCI is based on a factor analysis of the euro area aggregate balances (seasonally adjusted) of five of the monthly questions in the industry survey (only employment and selling-price expectations are excluded).

Full details of the Business Climate Indicator are available on the Europa website:

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/db_indicators/surveys/index_en.htm

The next BCI Results are due to be published on 26 April 2012.