In April 2008 the outlook for the manufacturing sector was equally optimistic as it had been in the previous month but worse than in April 2007.

Some 31% of the surveyed manufacturers reported an improvement and 8% a deterioration in business conditions. Manufacturers signalled a slower rise in new orders, both domestic and foreign ones, than previously projected. Stocks of finished products stayed at a satisfactory level. In April manufacturers had less difficulty meeting their current financial obligations because delays in collecting receivables diminished. Managers signalled a smaller increase in employment than a month before and prices of finished products were expected to grow at a slower rate. In April 2008 entrepreneurs operating in all manufacturing sectors, except for producers of clothes and fur products, assessed the business climate optimistically. Producers of chemicals, rubber and plastic products, construction materials, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, metals, paper products and foodstuffs were the most optimistic.
In April 9% of the surveyed companies reported no barriers to their operations. The remaining companies pointed to the following major barriers: high fiscal burdens (indicated by 49% of companies versus 59% last year), insufficient demand on the domestic market (43%), and unclear and incoherent regulations (34%).The barriers created by high fiscal burdens and incoherent regulations diminished the most over the year. In April capacity utilisation stood at 80%. Producers of metals, motor vehicles and transport equipment reported the highest capacity utilization.