RAMALLAH, March 6, 2004, (WAFA)- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said today that 32.3% of the owners/managers of the economic establishments in the Palestinian Territory believe that their current economic situation is worse compared with last month.... In a press release issued, today, the PCBS said the economic situation has deteriorated due to the Israeli restrictions on the Palestinian economy, according to the fifth round of a survey conducted by PCBS in February in the Palestinian Occupied Territories (POT).... (24.9% in West Bank and 49.6% in Gaza Strip), against 17.5% reported better situation (22.3% in West Bank and 6.6% in Gaza strip).... Data collection took place during the period 7/2/2004-17/2/2004 on a sample composed of 508 establishments, of which 333 in West Bank and 175 in Gaza Strip, according to the press release.... Regarding Israeli restriction on mobility, PCBS said that 63.5% of the owners/managers of the economic establishments think that there were no real difficulties in reaching the place of work in the past month, while this percent was 51.2% in the past six month.... In addition, the PCBS's survey reveals that 9.6% reported it was difficult for workers to reach place of work in the past month while this percent was 18.2% in the past six months.... There were significant differences between the perceptions in West Bank and Gaza Strip, as 94.2% of them in Gaza Strip reported that there were no difficulties in reaching the place of work in the past month, this percent was 86.1% for the past six months, as for West Bank; 50.2% reported that there were no difficulties in the past month and 36.0% for the past six months, the PCBS said.... The main findings of the survey regarding the level of employment show some pessimism, as 23.6% expected decline in employment level, while only 9.8% expected an increase, and 66.6% expect the same level, the PCBS reported.... As for the expected sales volume, the survey points out 17.8% of the owners/managers of the economic establishments in the Palestinian Territory expect higher sales volume, and 27.9% expect lower sales volume.... The survey also said the expectations of the owners/managers of the economic establishments in Gaza Strip were optimistic; “18.6% expected decline in employment level, while 20.4% expected increasing, and 61.0% expected the same level. The same in West Bank, people were optimistic as 24.3% expected increasing employment level and 54.5% expected the same level, and 21.2% expected decreasing".... Data reveal that 21.4% of the owners/managers of the economic establishments reported that the sales volume will decrease in the coming six months (21.9% in West Bank, and 20.2% in Gaza Strip), while 38.6% of them expect an increase in sales Volume in both West Bank and Gaza Strip.... The main findings of the survey show that there may be no changes on the level of direct investments in the coming period in general; “75.1% of the respondents expect that there will be no changes in this field in the coming year, and 10.4% expect an increase in the level of direct investment in the coming year, and 14.5% expect decrease”.... The owners and managers of the economic establishments expect that the main reason for the expected investment level to decline or remain constant will be the limited business prospects (50.4%) while 4.6% of respondents said it will be the lack of credit/finance, and 45.0% for both cases, according to the press release.... As for the Israeli obstacles, the report revealed that the owners/ managers of the economic establishments are facing major problems in their work as a result of the Israeli measures.... Some of them (owners/managers) on obtaining raw materials and inputs (26.1% of the respondents), others in shipping goods and marketing (17.7%), and problems related to the ability of laboures to reach place of work (14.2%).... In addition 13.6% of the owners and managers indicated that they were unable to operate regulary because of curefew, while 37.6% were suffering from financial problems, and 33.7% from other problems, the report concluded.... - -