The turnover of Reunion VSEs and SMEs increased by 1,7% in 2023 compared to 2022, but dropped by 0,8% in the 4th quarter, according to the SME image survey carried out by the council of the order of chartered accountants and the Sagis institute.
Annual growth is low — it had reached 5,5% the previous year — and below inflation. The turnover of small businesses in the commercial sector is even lower than in 2022, according to the survey. The overall decline recorded in the 4th quarter is the first since the end of 2020. VSE-SMEs in the industrial sector are doing better, with an increase in their turnover of 4,7% over the quarter and 5,7% over the year. In the construction sector, the increase stands at 2% over the quarter and 5,9% over the year, under the effect of the pass-on of cost increases on prices. In transportation and warehousing, turnover increased by 2,2% in the last quarter, more than 0,4% only over the year. Growth continues to slow in almost all service sectors, where turnover fell on average by 2,3% over the quarter and increased by 1,6% over the year. In commerce, the sectors most impacted by the slowdown in activity are those of general food (turnover down by 5,7 %), furniture (-6,6 %) and clothing (-7,1 %).
