12/09/2008 10h51
Research shows SP industry is optimistic
Valor Econômico - 12/09/2008
The performance of the industry of São Paulo in 2009 is still a mystery for businesspeople. The president of the Federation of the Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), Paulo Skaf, foresees a first quarter with zero growth or fall in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Vice-President of the entity and the president of the CSN, Benjamin Steinbruch, more optimistic, works with expectation of improvement in the international scenario until February and the resumption of growth in the industry and in the Brazilian GDP. A survey made by the Fiesp with 1,205 companies between 1 and 20 of November revealed that most of the São Paulo industries still keep their optimism about 2009. According to the study, 22% of the interviewees believe sales should fall compared to 2008; another 36% foresee a repetition of this year's results and the remaining 39% project an increase. In relation to profitability, 29% foresee a decline, 39% hope to repeat the performance of 2008 and 31% foresee increasing profitability. Regarding employment, 20% foresee to hire more, 55% expect to keep their staff, and 24% foresee cuts. The director of the Department of Research and Economic Studies of Fiesp, Paulo Francini, remarked that, in October, the industry of São Paulo grew 0.2%, while, in the country, the sector had a fall of 1.7%, a factor that may have contributed for the optimistic result of the survey.
