In the Q4 of 2016, the activity of the non-financial market services sector and wholesale trade registered a considerable increase according to 67% of industrial employers, reports the High Commission for Planning (HCP) in its latest quarterly business survey.

According to the survey, this trend was felt by 67% of the business managers surveyed, while 13% of them noted a decline in their activities. This increase is due in particular to the increase in telecommunications, warehousing and ancillary transport services. The decline, however, was recorded at the leasing level.

“This good performance of non-financial merchant services was accompanied by a slight increase in benefits abroad,” noted the HCP.

With regards to order books, 70% of employers believe that they are at their normal level, compared with 11% who consider that they are below this level.

67% of respondents said that employment has stagnated.

Under these conditions, the rate of utilization of the capacity of the benefits (TUC) reached 82%. According to the HCP, the majority of companies incurred capital expenditure in 2016, mainly for the replacement of part of the equipment and the extension of the activity.

Also in the Q4 of 2016, wholesale sales in the local market increased according to 40% of wholesalers, while 29% reported registering a decrease, states the HCP.

The survey explains this change due to higher sales in the Wholesale Trade in Food and Beverages sector, Wholesale Trade in Other Industrial Equipment and Wholesale Trade in Information Equipment and of communication sector on the one hand, and lower sales in other specialized wholesale trade sectors on the other hand.

Source :Morocco World News