RAMALLAH, March 31, 2004, (WAFA)- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said that the Palestinian economic conditions in March 2004 are worse in comparison with the last February.... In a press release issued, today, the PCBS said the economic situation has deteriorated due to the Israeli restrictions, according to the sixth round of a survey conducted by PCBS in March in the Palestinian Occupied Territories (POT).... The survey has been conducted on the perception of the owners/managers of the economic establishments about the economic conditions. Data collection took place during the period 1/3/2004-21/3/2004 on a sample composed of 570 establishments, of which 381 in West Bank and 189 in Gaza Strip... According to the PCBS 39.6% of the owners/managers of the economic establishments reported that their current economic situation is worse compared with last month (31.2% in West Bank and 60.4% in Gaza Strip), against 21.3% reported better situation (26.3% in West Bank and 8.8% in Gaza strip).... The owners/managers of the economic establishments reported facing major problems in their work as a result of the Israeli measures, some of them on obtaining raw materials and inputs (25.7% of the respondents), others in shipping goods and marketing (17.1%), and problems related to the ability of laboures to reach place of work (18.0%).... In addition 2.7% of the owners/managers indicated that they were unable to operate regulary because of curefew, while 43.9% were suffering from financial problems, and 50.7% from other problems.... Concerning restriction on mobility, 74.2% of the owners/managers of the economic establishments reported that there was no real difficulties in reaching the place of work in the past month, while this percent was 61.0% in the past six month.... 8.9% reported that it was difficult for workers to reach place of work in the past month while this percent was 16.8% in the past six months. There was significant differences between the perceptions in West Bank and Gaza Strip, as 87.8% of them in Gaza Strip reported that there were no difficulties in reaching the place of work in the past month, this percent was 84.1% for the past six months, as for West Bank; 68.7% reported that there were no difficulties in the past month and 51.7% for the past six months.... As for the expectation in the short term (in the coming month), 22.7% of the owners/managers of the economic establishments expect a better situation for their establishment compared with today (24.4% in West Bank and 18.3% in Gaza Strip), against 31.1% expected a worse situation (22.4% in West Bank and 53.0% in Gaza Strip), while 46.2% expected no changes (53.2% in West Bank and 28.7% in Gaza Strip).... The main findings of the survey regarding the level of employment show some pessimism, as 19.5% expected decline in employment level, while 15.1% expected an increase, and 65.4% expect the same level.... Regarding the Mid-Term expectations of the owners/managers of the economic establishments in Gaza Strip were pessimistic, 24.5% expected decline in employment level, while 20.6% expected increasing, and 54.9% expected the same level. In West Bank, people were optimistic as 25.4% expected increasing employment level and 59.7% expected the same level, and 14.9% expected decreasing.... Data reveal that 23.6% of the owners/managers of the economic establishments reported that the sales volume will decrease in the coming six months (17.9% in West Bank, and 38.0% in Gaza Strip), while 29.6% of them expect an increase in sales Volume (32.8% in West Bank and 21.7% in 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, as 75.0% of the respondents expect that there will be no changes in this field in the coming year, and 9.1% expect an increase in the level of direct investment in the coming year, and 15.9% expect decrease.... The owners/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 (27.9%) while 9.1% of respondents said it will be the lack of credit/finance, and 63.0% for both cases....