YTD, figures are 1.0 percent lower than those for the comparable period of 2014. Growth was registered by mid- to large-size producers, while (smaller) mid- to small-size companies had to face declines in the single digit percentage range.

 

Order intake in April stood 3.1 percent higher than in April last year. Here too, companies registered - depending on company size - significant differences; mid-sized companies had substantial increases in order intake.

 

Despite the positive development in order intake and sales, the book-to-bill ratio was - with 0.93 - below par.

 

The number of employees remained levelled (compared to March 2015), but increased by 4.1 percent when compared to April 2014.