In December, the seasonally adjusted confidence indicator in services decreased, its value (7) dropped by 8 percentage points (p.p.) compared with November. The indicator´s development was affected by more negative evaluations of all its three components, while the demand was the most pessimistically evaluated by th  respondents.

Compared with the last month´s survey, the business situation over the past three months slightly deterioaretd, the business balance (of seasonally adjusted data) decreased by 1 point and reached the level 7. A deterioration of the business situation is felt by 17 % enterprises (by 3 p.p. more than in November), 18 % of respondents reported an improvement (by 3 p.p. less), 6 5% of enterprises (similarly as in the previous survey) had a stable development. They were less satisfied mainly in arts, entertainment and recreation, in accommodation and in foods service activities, in financial and insurance activities, as well as in other service activities; an improvement of the situation compared with November was registered mainly in  and support service activities.

Compared with the last month´s survey, the demand for the services over the past three months (6) decreased by 3 points. A decrease of the demand was felt mainly in accommodation and food service activities, in , entertainment and recreation an in other service activities, slighter also in transportation and storage; an  demand was recorded mainly in professional, scientific and technical activities.

The expected development of the demand for services over the next three months was also evaluated more negatively by respondents, the seasonally adjusted business balance (8) decreased by 20 points. A lower demand is expected almost in all groups, mostly in transportation and storage as well as in other service activities, the only exception were the accommodation and food services, where an improvement is assumed. 14 % of enterprises increased the number of their employees over the past three months (by 2 p.p more than in November), 31 % of enterprises reported a decrease (by 11 p.p. less), 55 % of enterprises had a stable development (by 9 p.p more).

Compared with the previous month, the final seasonally adjusted balance (-26) rose by 6 p.p. indicating an improvement in the employment situation. The number of employees increased mainly in financial and insurance activities; on the contrary, lower number of employees were mainly in arts, entertainment and recreation, also in other service activities.

In the development of the employment over the next three months, a slight improvement of the situation is assumed, the business balance (7) increased by 1 point, compared with the previous month. A higher number of employees is assumed mainly in financial and insurance activities, also in arts, entertainment and recreation; lower number of employees is assumed mainly in transportation and storage and in other service activities.

Compared with the previous period, the business balance of the expected prices of services over the next three months (15) remained unchanged, while a price increase is considered by 26% of enterprises (by 4 p.p. more than in November), 4% of enterprises assume a price drop (by 2 p.p. more), 70% of enterprises (by 6 p.p. less) assume a stable development.