Fecomércio and Sebrae-PR survey shows less optimistic businessmen

The new edition of the Commerce Entrepreneurs’ Opinion Survey, prepared by Fecomércio PR and Sebrae/PR and released at the end of last week, detected a lower level of optimism among businessmen from Paraná since the beginning of the historical series in 2001. survey, the percentage of businessmen who bet on the increase in revenue of their businesses in the second half of 2023 is 27.7%.

In the second half of 2022, the degree of optimism of Paraná’s business community corresponded to 49.7% and went to 36.1% in the 1st half of this year. A larger portion (29.9%) bets on business stability. Unfavorable expectations for the 2nd half of 2023 add up to 16.9%. Almost a third of businessmen did not want to give an opinion on the subject (25.6%) in the Fecomércio/Sebrae-PR survey.

Regarding the staff, the majority, 71.9%, say they will maintain or increase the staff, with 47.4% of businessmen hoping to continue as they are and 24.5% see the possibility of growth. The rate of new hires fell in relation to the 1st semester, going from 27.4% to 24.5% in this semester.

“The preponderant factor pointed out in the survey is the stability in relation to the billing of companies in the commerce, services and tourism sectors this semester. The macroeconomic scenario in recent months has improved with the deceleration of inflation and the increase in GDP, which tends to generate positive effects during the second half of the year”, assesses the Business Development coordinator at Fecomércio PR, Rodrigo Schmidt.

Tourism is the sector with the highest favorable expectation, with 29.5%. Trade is next, with 28.6% of positive projections. In the service sector, the degree of optimism covers 26.3% of entrepreneurs.

Individual microentrepreneurs are the most confident in Paraná, with 33.3% of favorable expectations. Among the directors of small companies, 28.6% are confident, as well as 27% among micro companies. Among managers of medium and large companies, 24.3% are confident that they will obtain better results in the remaining months of the year.

For the technical director of Sebrae/PR, César Reinaldo Rissete, despite the low result in relation to growth expectations for the second half, there is a positive scenario for the last months of 2023.

“Even with moderate optimism, it is possible to note that those who undertake see potential for improvement, especially when one in three businesses intend to make some investment (according to the survey, 29.4% of entrepreneurs intend to invest in 2023). In addition, the heating up of the economy and the prospect of economic business growth in Brazil are factors that impact the market and should reflect on our state”, points out Rissete.

The main difficulties pointed out by businessmen from Paraná for the second half are practically the same as those listed at the beginning of the year. What is observed, however, is an increase in concerns related mainly to the tax burden, skilled labor, lack of government incentives, economic instability and access to credit.