Business confidence index falls 0.3% in April

The commerce business confidence index fell 0.3% in April in Paraná. This is the second consecutive drop. On the national average, the rate increased 2% compared to March, reaching 108.1 points.

The Current Conditions of Commerce Entrepreneurs (ICAEC) registered the biggest negative impact on the opinion of entrepreneurs in Paraná, suffering a drop of 1.8% compared to the previous month and the score is 79.1, below the satisfaction margin.

This score demonstrates the caution of traders in Paraná, especially regarding the Current Economic Conditions (CAE), a variable that suffered a reduction of 3.3% from March to April, added to the Current Conditions of Commerce (CAC), a point that dropped by 2. 7% in monthly variation.

Even with a less than optimistic assessment of the current scenario, businesspeople from Paraná still have optimistic expectations: the Commerce Entrepreneur Expectations (IEEC) factor grew 0.4% and reached 130.9 points. The data are from CNC (National Confederation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism) and Fecomércio-PR (Federation of Commerce in Goods, Services and Tourism of Paraná).

Still according to the survey, the expectation for better days comes from the confidence that entrepreneurs have in the potential of their companies, with growth of 1.3% in the item Expectations of Commercial Companies (EEC). Brazilian Economic Expectations (EEB) also grew a little, 0.3%, but Trade Expectations (EC) dropped 0.5%.

Commercial Entrepreneur Investments (IIEC) stood at 100.9 points, a decrease of 0.1%. ICEC had the biggest decline among companies with more than 50 employees, with a drop of 0.9%. Among micro and small companies (up to 50 employees) the reduction was 0.3%.