The decline in business sector deepened last year

Compared to 2008 profits decreased in most economic activities. Only mining, energy, real estate and human health activities were capable of increasing their profits. Agriculture and forestry as well as accommodation and food service activities were in loss.

In 2009 enterprises sold goods and services for 502 billion kroons, which was a fifth less than a year earlier. Although net sales decreased the most in construction and education, net sales of the whole business sector were mainly influenced by the wholesale and retail trade as well as manufacturing enterprises due to a bigger share of these economic activities in the gross net sales of business sector. Compared to 2008, the net sales of these economic activities decreased by 23% and by a fourth respectively.

The costs of enterprises decreased 19%, thereby personnel expenses decreased 17%.

The investment activeness of enterprises slowed down, too. Last year, enterprises invested 26.6 billion kroons, which was a fourth less than in 2008. Investments were mainly made in the construction and alteration of buildings and in equipment and machinery. Major investors were energy, manufacturing, and transportation and storage enterprises. The enterprises of these three economic activities made a half of the total investments of enterprises. Only the investments in acquisition of buildings and structures (8%) and in land (6%) increased in comparison with 2008. Other investments decreased.

The net sales of business sector decreased by nearly a fourth in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2009 compared with the respective quarters of 2008, but in the 4th quarter the decline in net sales slowed down. In the 4th quarter, the enterprises’ net sales of goods and services totalled 125 billion kroons, which was 15% less than in the same period a year earlier.

In the 4th quarter, enterprises invested 6.7 billion kroons, i.e. by a fourth less than in the 4th quarter of 2008.

Total profit of the business sector, 2002–2009