Economic outlook at the Chamber of Commerce where Bernard Kleynhoff was accompanied by Yvon Grosso, president of UPE, and Bernard Galvez, president of the Chamber of Craftsmen. In summary: the economy remains generally in a gloomy climate, the rise in unemployment is confirmed, and employment in the Azure region is decreasing. In Nice, the turnover (2013/2012) remains unchanged while employment decreases by 0.5%.
An obvious fact and a confirmation: there is a distribution by geographic sectors also in resistance, and it is always the Grasse basin that drives the economy of the Alpes-Maritimes.
Activity has been generally maintained, but it’s a two-speed economy where large exporting companies stand out. It is the exports that allow the Azure economy to better withstand.
2013 is also marked by the difficulties encountered by companies in their collections and the extension of payment deadlines. A majority of industrialists want land, business real estate, and suitable urban planning rules to promote their development.
The morale of business leaders is not good, especially among merchants: 43% find the deployment of their sales in 2013 insufficient.
Year over year, the value of sales by merchants has sharply declined, and all forms of commerce are affected. This confirms the sector’s need to adapt to new consumption modes.
Blame it on e-commerce? “Not at all,” says Bernard Kleynhoff, “I repeat, e-commerce is complementary to local commerce.”
Some figures: (2013/2012)
Turnover: Industry +3%, (exports +5%), construction -2%, commerce -3% (exports -3%), and services +1%
Employment: Industry +1%, construction -1%, commerce -1%.
