More than 400 companies in the region testified in the biannual business survey of the CCIs of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the trend for this new school year is marked by great concern.
Through this analysis, the CCI of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes noted that the assessment of the activity of regional VSEs-SMEs in the 1st half of the year is a little less favorable than that of the year 2021 but remains positive all the same.
46% of companies have an increase in turnover and 28% remain stable. However, the semester was not easy for companies, with the latest Covid waves and the invasion of Ukraine causing an energy shock and exacerbating inflationary pressures.
59% of companies say they are hampered in their development by the rise in prices and the effects on margins are appearing. Moreover, recruitment difficulties are still growing, now affecting all sectors and a majority of companies.
The business outlook for the 2e semester appear to be differentiated according to sectors and companies, being in particular less favorable for VSEs. Overall, employment forecasts remain positive. Those in terms of investment are more mixed.
There is an increase in the lack of confidence in the general economic situation, given the pressure of inflation, the risks on energy and the geopolitical situation. 46% of VSEs-SMEs also consider that the risk of business failure is high in their economic environment.