According to the top managers of BAG member businesses and companies, in the first quarter of 2021, 51.3% of surveyed businesses claimed that they will increase their total investments in 2021, compared to 2020. At the same time, 37.6% of the surveyed companies expect no change in their total investments for the year, while 11.1% expect a decrease in total investments.
The construction sector conveyed the most pessimistic expectations for 2021 amongst all four sectors. Only 43% of companies in the construction sector claimed that they will increase their total investments in 2021, compared to 2020. Moreover, either half or more than a half of respondents held similar expectations in the manufacturing, service, and trade sectors (50%, 51%, and 55.6%, respectively).
Overall, 21.4% of companies in the construction sector expect that they will record a decrease in total investments in 2021, compared to 2020. Elsewhere, 16.7% of respondents in the trade sector have similar expectations, compared to 6.3% in the manufacturing sector and 5.9% in the service sector.
As part of an investment survey, which is carried out bi-annually, PMC Research Center collects data on investment trends. For the purposes of this survey, respondents were divided into the following four sectors (similar to the BAG Business Climate): construction, manufacturing, service and trade. The survey conducted in the first quarter of 2021 covered investments made by surveyed businesses in 2020 and their plans for 2021.
