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Dubai's retail sector was the best performing sector.
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Dubai private sector growth stays robust

DUBAI, March 9, 2017

February data signalled a further improvement in overall business conditions across Dubai’s private sector economy, underpinned by sharp rises in output and incoming new work, with the growth of the latter picking up to a 24-month high, a report said.

At 56.2 in February, the seasonally adjusted Emirates NBD Dubai Economy Tracker Index – a composite indicator designed to give an accurate overview of operating conditions in the non-oil private sector economy – registered above the crucial 50.0 threshold for the 12th month in succession. The latest reading was down from January’s 23-month high of 57.1, but was above the series average (55.1).

Wholesale and retail was the best performing category for the first time in six months (index at 58.3), followed by travel and tourism (index at 57.0). Meanwhile, construction companies recorded a slowdown in growth momentum during February, with the headline index down to 53.3, from 55.4 at the start of the year, it said.

A reading of below 50.0 indicates that the non-oil private sector economy is generally declining; above 50.0, that it is generally expanding. A reading of 50.0 signals no change.

The survey covers the Dubai non-oil private sector economy, with additional sector data published for travel and tourism, wholesale and retail and construction.

Commenting on the Emirates NBD Dubai Economy Tracker, Khatija Haque, head of Mena Research at Emirates NBD, said: “The February Dubai Economy Tracker survey continues to show robust expansion in Dubai’s non-oil private sector.  Strong growth in output and new orders, which points to solid GDP growth in Q1 2017, is not being reflected in higher employment however, and competition continues to weigh on selling prices. ”

Key Findings
* Dubai Economy Tracker Index at second-highest mark in 23 months
* Sharpest rise in new orders in two years
* Employment levels broadly unchanged

Business activity and employment
The overall improvement in the health of Dubai’s private sector reflected another sharp upturn in business activity in February. The rate of output growth was stronger than the long-run series average, but eased from January’s 23-month high to its weakest in three months. Furthermore, all three key sub-sectors noted sharp increases in activity during February, led by wholesale & retail. Anecdotal evidence generally linked higher business activity to stronger underlying demand conditions.

Dubai’s private sector employment was broadly unchanged in February, thereby ending a seven-month sequence of job creation.

Incoming new work
New work received by private sector companies in Dubai continued to rise in February. Additionally, the latest increase quickened to the sharpest since February 2015. A number of firms cited stronger market demand, supported by successful marketing and promotional strategies. Some firms also mentioned new client wins stemming from good reputation and quality.

Companies remained optimistic about their growth prospects for the year ahead. Travel and tourism firms were the most upbeat towards the 12-month outlook for activity, closely followed by wholesale and retail.

Input costs and average prices charged
Input price inflation softened since January and was slight overall. Meanwhile, output charges continued to fall with the rate of discounting the weakest in three months and modest overall. Wholesale and retail and construction companies continued to offer discounts, which was generally linked to intense competition and efforts to secure sales. In contrast, travel and tourism firms continued to raise their average selling prices, the survey said. - TradeArabia News Service


 




Tags: Dubai | retail | Private | ENBD |

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