Services - 3. quarter of 2004

Quarter-on-quarter comparison:

Seasonally adjusted constant price sales in services increased by 0.4%, rising most in retail trade incl. the automotive segment (+2.0%) and in post and telecommunications (+1.2%). Lower sales were in hotels and restaurants (-3.5%), other business activities (-2.7%) and computer and related activities (-2.6%).

Year-on-year comparison:

Seasonally adjusted (incl. working days adjustment) constant price sales in services rose by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter.

The 3rd quarter of 2003 had 3 working days more than the 3rd quarter of 2004, which affected y-o-y sales not seasonally adjusted (only +1.9%). Most markedly increased sales in transport (+4.9%). Also other business activities, post and telecommunications and retail trade incl. the automotive segment recorded higher sales, whereas sales in other service activities, in hotels and restaurants and in computer and related activities dropped.

Sales broken down by CZ-NACE activity were as follows:

- sales in retail trade incl. the automotive segment rose by 1.6%. In the automotive segment they were 0.3% up, of which maintenance and repair of motor vehicles fell by 1.7% (this sale is considerably affected by numbers of working days) and sale of automotive fuel increased by 3.5%. Sales in retail trade grew by 2.3%, of which sale of food, beverages and tobacco +1.8% and of non-food goods +2.6%. Sales of textile, clothing and footwear increased most (+13.6%);

- the fall in hotels and restaurants was influenced by the development in restaurants, canteens and catering. The decrease, which occurred in May 2004 when VAT was raised in this segment, grew in last three months (a fall of 7.7%). On the other hand, sales in hotels, camping sites and other provisions of short-stay accommodation rose by 4.8%;

- as far as transport is concerned, the growth slowed down (4.9%), compared to the preceding four quarters. The highest increase was reported for supporting and auxiliary transport activities (+8.8%), mainly affected by higher sale of goods of some enterprises, the sale being classified as supporting activity. Sales in transport by road grew by 2.7% and in air transport by 1.7%. Sales in transport via railways dropped by 1.1%;

- sales in post and telecommunications increased by 2.1%, of which telecommunications made up +2.5% and post and courier activities -1.2%;

- sales in computer and related activities were down by 1.5%. The exceptional demand of the preceding quarter for hardware consultancy plus software consultancy and supply ceased, sales being only 0.1% up. Sales related to data processing and database activities dropped (-6.0%) and so did maintenance and repair of office machinery (-7.3%);

- sales in other business activities were up by 2.2%. They grew in a majority of CZ-NACE activities measured, most in labour recruitment and provision of personnel (+20.9%) and in legal, book-keeping and tax consultancy (+7.9%). On the other hand, sales dropped in miscellaneous business activities n.e.c. (-4.4%) and in investigation and security activities (-0.8%, for the first time since 1998);

- sales in other service activities followed the pattern of the two preceding quarters and decreased (-4.5%). They were up in washing and dry-cleaning of textile and fur products (+0.9%), but other activities (hairdressing and other beauty treatment, funeral and related activities, physical well-being activities, etc.) recorded marked decreases.

Analysis - Services in the 3rd quarter of 2004

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Note
Contact: Hellerová Alena, phone (+420) 274052921, e-mail ahellerova@gw.czso.cz
Data source: CZSO direct survey in enterprises
End of data collection: 5 November 2004
End of data processing: 10 November 2004
Related publications: 9106-04 Results of Monthly Survey in Retail Trade, Hotels and Restaurants
9003-04 Market Services
9301-04 Transport and Communications ( https://csu.gov.cz )
The data are preliminary; revised data will be released in follow-up publications.