Service Sector: Outlook Increasingly Optimistic

In the service sector the business climate improved slightly. Although assessments of the current business situation were less favourable, they remained at a high level. The business outlook, by contrast, brightened. Companies remained satisfied with their order situation and were positive about developments in demand over the months ahead. Less than half of the service providers surveyed cited a constraint on business activities (45%). The most commonly cited problem was a lack of qualified staff (23%).