TIRANA, Jan 6 /ATA/ The Bank of Albania reported that the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) declined by 3.8 points in December 2024, yet it remains 8 percentage points above the historical average.
According to the Bank of Albania, the decline in the ESI in December was recorded in the construction and services sectors, with a smaller impact also coming from the drop in consumer confidence.
Specifically, the Industrial Confidence Indicator (ICI) decreased by 1 percentage point in December. This drop was attributed to less optimistic assessments from businesses about the current industrial production. Furthermore, expectations for future prices were revised upward from the previous month, along with businesses’ expectations for future employment in the sector.
The Construction Confidence Indicator (CCI) dropped by 5.5 percentage points in December. Its level remains about 22 percentage points above the historical average. The decline in the CCI was driven by both lower assessments of current construction activity and a decrease in expectations for new contracts.
The Services Confidence Indicator (SCI) decreased by 5.5 percentage points in December. Despite monthly fluctuations, the indicator remains 16 percentage points above the historical average. Meanwhile, expectations for employment levels and future price trends have been revised upward.
The Trade Confidence Indicator (TCI) decreased by 3.3 percentage points in December, following a 2.5 percentage point increase in the previous two months of the quarter. Currently, the TCI level remains about 11 percentage points above the historical average. The current value of the TCI was mainly influenced by less favorable assessments of current business performance and expectations for future employment.
/j.p/sm/
