Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are in good health with a positive economic outlook despite the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the SME Business Climate Index, published by SMEunited on Thursday 14 October.
As such, the index rose by 16.3 points compared to last spring’s results to reach 76.1%. In the spring, this indicator reached 59.8% (see EUROPE 12678/21). This sudden positive trend is, according to SMEunited ‘s analysis, due to the gradual relaxation of containment measures and the acceleration of the vaccination programme.
However, this result could be undermined by rising energy prices, which are hitting the European Union hard (see EUROPE 12803/14), and by the scarcity of certain raw materials. These two parameters affect in particular the construction and manufacturing sectors, commented the Director for Economic and Fiscal Policy, Gerhard Huemer.
To access the index: https://bit.ly/3azmIdb (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)