Catalan firms see 5.6% growth over three years
In the last three years the number of trading companies in Catalonia has risen more sharply than in the rest of Spain
BarcelonaIn the last three years the number of trading companies in Catalonia has risen more sharply than in the rest of Spain. This is one of the conclusions from the data published by the Central Business Directory and unveiled last Monday by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE).
Between January 2014 and January 2017, the number of Catalan firms grew by 5.6 per cent, whereas in the rest of Spain the same figure was 0.4 per cent lower. “Catalonia’s steady progress contrasts with Spain as a whole, where the economy has been slowing down since 2014”, said a statement posted yesterday on the website of Catalonia’s Economy and Vice-presidency department.
The report shows that the number of trading firms in Catalonia rose at a rate higher than 2 per cent in the last two years, while the average growth is Spain was 1.5 per cent.
Earlier this year, Catalonia was the Spanish region with the highest number of trading companies, 18.5 per cent. The Madrid region took second place, with 16 per cent.
The sector sees a drop in confidence
After a three-month positive spell, confidence among industrial companies in Catalonia dropped to a negative figure in July this year. This is the conclusion drawn by Industrial Climate in Catalonia, a monthly survey which gathers information such as production forecasts and trends in retail prices. The report indicates that the drop in confidence among Catalonia’s businesses is due to falling orders and a drop in forecast production for the summer. This outlook contrasts with the situation in the EU, where businesses are growing increasingly confident about the future.
