Market Services - 2. quarter of 2008

In Q2 seasonally adjusted sales in market services dropped by 0.5%, q-o-q, at constant prices. In the year-on-year comparison, not seasonally adjusted, they increased by 1.9%. Only 'other service activities' as the only one among all observed divisions recorded a decrease, y-o-y (-2.3%).
In Q2 seasonally adjusted sales in market services ¹⁾ dropped by 0.5% quarter-on-quarter, at constant prices . The trend component grew by 0.8 %.

Graph 1
Year-on-year, sales grew in Q2 2008 by 1.9%, which was the slowest growth for the last 6 quarters. Seasonally adjusted sales increased by 4.0%, working days adjusted (one working day more than in Q2 2007) sales grew by 1.6%.
The most important sections in terms of volume, i.e. other business activities, recorded a 1.7% increase, contributing by 1.4 p.p. to the total growth. Sales in computer and related activities increased by 3.1% while other service activities posted a 2.3% drop.

Year-on-year development of not seasonally adjusted sales in market services broken down by CZ-NACE divisions:

- sales in computer and related activities increased by 3.1%, y-o-y, which was most contributed to by data processing and database activities (+22.2%), hardware and software consultancy and supply (+ 2.3%). A drop was recorded like in the corresponding period of the previous year only for maintenance and repair of office and computing machinery (-5.7%);

- in other business activities a 1.7% sales increase was recorded, year-on-year, which is the lowest sales growth for the last 5 quarters. Only sales in labour recruitment and provision of personnel resumed its double-digit growth (by 10.9%). Architectural and engineering activities reported a significantly lower growth (+0.8%) compared with Q1 2008. Sales in legal, accounting activities and tax consultancy increased moderately, y-o-y, by 1.7%. Demand for investigation and security activities and industrial cleaning shows a long-term growing trend (growth by 9.8% and 6.2%, respectively). Advertising reported a 4.6% growth of sales, y-o-y, for the fourth quarter in a row. In the group of activities identified as miscellaneous business activities including e.g. photographic, packaging, translation activities, holding of exhibitions, etc. a y-o-y drop by 3.4% was recorded quarterly after more than 2 years;

- sales in other service activities recorded a 2.3% drop, y-o-y, which came mainly from sales decrease in section more significant in terms of volume i.e. hairdressing and other beauty treatment and funeral activities (-3.9%). Washing and dry-cleaning of textile and fur products was increased moderately (+0.3%).

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Methodological note :
1) For the purpose of New Releases, market services include the following CZ-NACE categories – computer and related activities and other business activities and other service activities.
2) The whole time series is seasonally adjusted every quarter; indices in the graph are changes retroactively.


Contact: Ing. Marie Boušková, tel. 274052935, e-mail: marie.bouskova@csu.gov.cz
Data source: CZSO direct survey in enterprises
End of data collection: 5 August 2008
End of data processing: 8 August 2008
Quarterly data since 1997 are available in time series
( /mesicni_indexy_trzeb_trzni_sluzby_casove_rady )
Data for 2008 are preliminary.