The shopfitting industry had an excellent year in 2007. 3 out of 4
firms had higher sales then in 2006 and in the end of 2007 the order
portfolio was 40% bigger then the year before. 9 out of 10 firms ended
2007 with a positive result. Just 6% of the firms had to deal with
losses, the lowest figure since 2000. And that after the also satisfying
years 2005 and 2006!!
Retail trade, construction- and building industry, and some other
important economic indicators for the sector are positive. Retailers
earned money in 2006/07 and are investing that in new shop-concepts.
The unemployment rate is about 4% on this moment. Because of that it is
very difficult to get skilled labour. Wages are slowly increasing.
However, outsourcing production to the low cost countries is not a big
issue in this moment.
In general the Dutch economy knew a growth-rate in 2007 of 3.5%; being
the highest rate since the year 2000!! Important components of the
growth are still the increasing export, the consumption of households
and new investments.
Households spent in 2007 2.1% more then in 2006. Highly responsible for
this figure is the the turnover in durable consumption goods; this
spending went up with 4%.
Investments increased with 4.9%, especially in machines, computers,
business-buildings, houses and roads. The production in all parts of the
industry went up. The biggest growth rate was in the metal-industry.
Other top areas are the building business and commercial performers.
Herman Jurrius, CBM/WWI, Holland, 17th April 2008.