The aim of the business tendency survey is to provide rapid, qualitative indications of the outcome, the current situation and expectations for important economic variables, where there is as yet no quantitative information. The questions concern, for instance, whether the inflow of orders has increased, remained unchanged or declined. The graphs show balances, i. e. the proportion responding "increase" minus the proportion responding "decline".
The confidence indicator for retail sale of other goods is based on the answers to several questions, according to the formula
Confidence indicator = sales situation (assessment) – stocks (assessment) + expected sales situation.
More results from and information about the Business Tendency Survey is available at National Institute of Economic Research.