The most recent figures from the mechanical and electrical engineering (MEM) industries present an unchanged gloomy picture. For the second quarter of 2013, the MEM industries reported a 4.3% drop in new orders (whole of 1H 2013: -2.5%). And although sales were up slightly in Q2 (+1.3%), they were down 1.3% over the first half of the year as a whole. Nevertheless, companies’ positive expectations as regards the future order situation – as well as the recent moderate economic growth in the key EU market – are fuelling hopes of a trend reversal in the second half of the year.