Optimism grows in beverage and wood sectors
Valor Econômico
At a fall in the last two months, the optimism of the manufacturers is still 8.9 points above historical average according to the monthly survey of the National Industry Confederation (CNI) on the current conditions of the Brazilian economy. Entrepreneurs of the sectors of beverage and wood stand out among the most confident.
The Index of the Confidence of the Industrial Entrepreneur (Icei), calculated by the CNI, retreated 0.1 point, going from 67.8 points in February to 67.7 points. The indicator goes from zero to 100 and the readings above 50 indicate optimism. 1,599 companies were surveyed between the 1st and the 22nd days of this month. The indicator regarding the expectations of the entrepreneurs for the economy in the next six months was stable at 71 points, also assessed last month. In relation to the performance of the very company for the next six months, the rate increased slightly, from 72.6 points to 72.7 points. The Icei is an average of the indicators on the perception of the performance in the month and of the expectations for the following half.
Among the 27 sectors surveyed, ten have registered an increase in the Icei of 1 point or more between February and March, such as beverages (from 62.4 points to 70.2 point) and wood (from 54.2 points to 61.8 points), while other eight areas experienced a fall above 1 point, such as leather (from 67.4 points to 60.1 points) and rubber (from 69.3 points to 62.8 points). Anyhow, notices the CNI, there is no sector with confidence below 60 points. As per segment, it was in the extractive industry that the greater optimism was found with a high 1.7 point in the Icei to 67.8 points. The most optimistic in March were the entrepreneurs of the area of hospital and precision equipment (71.7 points) and basic steel (71.5 points), followed by beverages. The wood sector, which, in February, was the only one below 60 points, increased to 61.8 points.