RAMALLAH, March 27, 2006 (WAFA) - Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) marked optimism in the opinion of improving establishments'conditions during short-term and pessimism in the med-term expectations.

In a Press Release issued Monday on the Main Findings of the Survey on the Perception of the Owners/Managers of the Industrial Establishments towards the Economic Conditions, PCBS revealed that the percentage of whom is expecting improvements on the establishment's situation declined by 21.4% during February 2006 compared with 42.8% during January 2006.

According to the press release, the percentage of whom is expecting higher level of employment declined by 52.3% during February 2006 compared with a decline by 63.5% during January 2006.

PCBS added that the expectations of the owners/ mangers of the industrial establishments were optimistic on the Mid-term period compared to the Short -term expectations.

"For the establishment situation, 42.8% of the owners/ mangers of the industrial establishments expect better situation during the next six month while this percentage was 36.7% for the next month expectations," PCBS said.

It pointed out that 32.8% of the owners were optimistic in their expectations about the volumes of the sales for the mid-term expectation, meanwhile this percent was 26.0% for the next month.

PCBS stated that 71.7% of the owners were optimistic in their mid-term expectations for the establishment situation in Gaza Strip, meanwhile this percent was 34.5% in West Bank.

"38.8% expect increases in the volume of sales over the mid-term expectation in GS compared with 31.1% in WB. 43.3% of the owners were optimistic in their expectations about increasing the level of employment in Gaza Strip, meanwhile this percent was 17.9% in Remaining West Bank (The West Bank except for those parts of Jerusalem, which were annexed after 1967 occupation by Israel)," PCBS added.

It also pointed out that 71.8% of the owners in GS reported that the political and security situations and the check points are the main reasons affecting the level of sales, while it was 15.6% in WB.

PCBS concluded that 49.0% of the owners/ managers of the industrial establishments in Remaining West Bank reported that the declining in the purchasing power as the main reason affecting the level of sales, while it was 15.6% in Gaza strip.

H.M. (15:06 P) (13:06 GMT)