Retailing: Current Business Situation Deteriorates

The business climate indicator for retailing fell for the fourth month in succession in October. The retailers surveyed no longer assessed their current business situation as positive for the first time since March 2010. Business expectations, however, were deemed less unfavourable. In view of lower inventories, retailers no longer intend to exercise as much caution with ordering plans. They nevertheless saw the need to lower prices in the months ahead. Personnel plans remained restrictively oriented.