France general retail trade order intents: all
France general retail trade order intents: all stood at -2.3 Balance of opinion (%) in Sep 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the INSEE business surveys table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1991 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the INSEE business surveys table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | |||||||||||
| Monthly survey in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles - Intents for orders in the next 3 months - All sectors of general retail trade | -2.3 | 6.4 | -0.4 | -5.4 | -8.6 | -5.7 | -0.3 | -0.5 | -0.6 | 0.9 | |
| Monthly survey in retail trade and in trade and repair of motor vehicles - Intents for orders in the next 3 months - All sectors of specialised retail trade (incl. pharmacy and fuels since 2003) | -22.4 | -15.3 | -22.5 | -31.9 | -31.9 | -18.6 | -14.1 | -22.5 | -18.6 | -8.2 |
Understanding france general retail trade order intents: all
Commercial enterprise directors across the broader retail sector report their projected purchasing and merchandise ordering intentions for the upcoming three-month period. The measure encompasses all retail sub-sectors, including both food and non-food merchants, providing an aggregate view of supply chain demand. This forward-looking indicator captures wholesale ordering plans before they translate into physical deliveries or recorded turnover.
Interpreting order intents requires understanding that supply chain adjustments often reflect inventory rebalancing rather than immediate changes in final consumer demand. Retailers may adjust ordering volumes due to lead-time shifts, supplier pricing policies, or seasonal stock preparation. Comparing these aggregate ordering intents with specific sectoral breakdowns helps isolate whether supply chain momentum is broad-based or driven by a single retail segment.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this aggregate order measure cover both food and non-food retail?
- Yes, it encompasses ordering plans across all general retail sectors, including both consumable and discretionary goods.
- Why do order intents often move ahead of actual retail sales data?
- Merchants place wholesale orders in advance of expected consumer demand and inventory restocking cycles.
- Can logistical lead times distort short-term ordering intentions?
- Shifts in transport reliability or supplier delivery speeds can prompt retailers to alter their near-term ordering volumes.