Beirut, December 2017: Beirut Traders Association and Bankmed released the results of “Beirut Traders Association – Bankmed Investment Index,” for the third quarter of 2017. The index, which is backed by the technical support of the Central Administration of Statistics in Lebanon, aims at assessing the reality of the wholesale sector in Lebanon.
The index reflects the investment climate in Lebanon, shedding light on the commercial activity and overall economic situation. The results for the third quarter of 2017 indicate a continued deterioration in the “Turnover Component” reflecting a state of prolonged economic inactivity, which has been initiated by several factors. Retailers, for instance, refrained from replenishing their stocks during the third quarter amid the talk of additional taxes, which would be incurred as a result of the pay scale taxations. In addition, the regional developments continued to strain the economy as a result of the burdens caused by the refugees. Similarly, the “Intention to Invest Component” witnessed a slight decline, revealing a deterioration in merchants’ intentions to increase their investments.
The “Turnover Component,” which tackles the activity during the quarter under study, recorded a real decline of (- 4.33%) in comparison with the third quarter of 2016. This drop is largely attributed to the continued reduction in the volume of orders placed by retail merchants during this period. According to the published results, the Wholesale Sector of Phones and Communication Equipment, the Wholesale Sector of Computers, and the Wholesale Sector of Construction Material continued to record a significant slump in their wholesale activities. On the other hand, the Wholesale Sector of Pastry, Chocolate, Sweets, Jams and Kernels, the Wholesale Sector of Clothes, and the Wholesale of Liquid Fuels witnessed a slight improvement in their wholesale activities.
With respect to the “Intention to Invest Component,” the computed results indicate that most sectors expressed a weakened intention among most wholesalers to increase their investments, specifically the Wholesale Sector of Construction Materials. However, there are few sectors that still exhibit willingness to increase their investments especially the Wholesale of Household Electrical Equipment, Wholesale of Paper Products, Wholesale of Computers, and within the food sector, the Wholesale of Dairy Products, Eggs, and Fats.
The “BTA – Bankmed Investment Index” has become an important indicator of the activity in the commercial sector as it assists the caretakers in making educated decisions in their future investments.