Business confidence; sector/branches 2008-2023

Business confidence; sector/branches 2008-2023

Sectors/Branches Periods Business confidence (%)
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2017 1st quarter 14.7
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2017 2nd quarter 15.5
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2017 3rd quarter 15.9
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2017 4th quarter 13.4
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2018 1st quarter 18.1
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2018 2nd quarter 14.2
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2018 3rd quarter 15.0
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2018 4th quarter 13.4
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2019 1st quarter 10.6
M-N Business services 2017 1st quarter 17.8
M-N Business services 2017 2nd quarter 16.6
M-N Business services 2017 3rd quarter 18.9
M-N Business services 2017 4th quarter 17.0
M-N Business services 2018 1st quarter 20.9
M-N Business services 2018 2nd quarter 17.4
M-N Business services 2018 3rd quarter 20.2
M-N Business services 2018 4th quarter 16.4
M-N Business services 2019 1st quarter 17.1
B Mining and quarrying 2017 1st quarter -14.6
B Mining and quarrying 2017 2nd quarter -2.8
B Mining and quarrying 2017 3rd quarter -18.5
B Mining and quarrying 2017 4th quarter -14.1
B Mining and quarrying 2018 1st quarter 0.5
B Mining and quarrying 2018 2nd quarter -13.9
B Mining and quarrying 2018 3rd quarter -20.5
B Mining and quarrying 2018 4th quarter -14.4
B Mining and quarrying 2019 1st quarter 4.4
C Manufacturing 2017 1st quarter 6.0
C Manufacturing 2017 2nd quarter 8.3
C Manufacturing 2017 3rd quarter 6.6
C Manufacturing 2017 4th quarter 8.2
C Manufacturing 2018 1st quarter 10.3
C Manufacturing 2018 2nd quarter 8.2
C Manufacturing 2018 3rd quarter 6.3
C Manufacturing 2018 4th quarter 5.9
C Manufacturing 2019 1st quarter 5.8
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2017 1st quarter 1.7
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2017 2nd quarter 6.7
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2017 3rd quarter 6.6
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2017 4th quarter 0.5
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2018 1st quarter 5.8
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2018 2nd quarter 8.0
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2018 3rd quarter 2.5
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2018 4th quarter 6.0
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2019 1st quarter 7.4
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2017 1st quarter 8.6
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2017 2nd quarter 14.8
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2017 3rd quarter 11.1
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2017 4th quarter 11.1
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2018 1st quarter 12.8
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2018 2nd quarter 19.6
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2018 3rd quarter 9.6
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2018 4th quarter 7.2
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2019 1st quarter 11.0
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2017 1st quarter 15.4
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2017 2nd quarter 17.3
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2017 3rd quarter 15.8
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2017 4th quarter 17.9
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2018 1st quarter 18.5
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2018 2nd quarter 24.0
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2018 3rd quarter 21.1
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2018 4th quarter 16.2
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2019 1st quarter 21.6
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2017 1st quarter 6.5
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2017 2nd quarter 10.8
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2017 3rd quarter 7.3
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2017 4th quarter 12.0
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2018 1st quarter 9.3
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2018 2nd quarter 10.7
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2018 3rd quarter 8.1
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2018 4th quarter 6.2
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2019 1st quarter 5.6
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2017 1st quarter 10.7
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2017 2nd quarter 10.2
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2017 3rd quarter 5.6
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2017 4th quarter 6.7
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2018 1st quarter 11.2
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2018 2nd quarter 5.8
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2018 3rd quarter 8.7
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2018 4th quarter 2.4
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2019 1st quarter 2.2
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2017 1st quarter 6.7
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2017 2nd quarter 9.3
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2017 3rd quarter 5.8
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2017 4th quarter 7.5
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2018 1st quarter 8.9
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2018 2nd quarter 6.9
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2018 3rd quarter 5.0
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2018 4th quarter 6.5
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2019 1st quarter 0.6
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2017 1st quarter 8.4
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2017 2nd quarter 6.2
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2017 3rd quarter 7.9
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2017 4th quarter 13.2
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2018 1st quarter 11.0
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2018 2nd quarter 6.4
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2018 3rd quarter 5.0
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2018 4th quarter 10.0
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2019 1st quarter 10.3
29-30 Transport equipment 2017 1st quarter 8.3
29-30 Transport equipment 2017 2nd quarter 4.3
29-30 Transport equipment 2017 3rd quarter 3.0
29-30 Transport equipment 2017 4th quarter 18.0
29-30 Transport equipment 2018 1st quarter 20.0
29-30 Transport equipment 2018 2nd quarter 17.3
29-30 Transport equipment 2018 3rd quarter 8.8
29-30 Transport equipment 2018 4th quarter 1.1
29-30 Transport equipment 2019 1st quarter 4.3
F Construction 2017 1st quarter 27.2
F Construction 2017 2nd quarter 34.7
F Construction 2017 3rd quarter 33.5
F Construction 2017 4th quarter 23.6
F Construction 2018 1st quarter 34.5
F Construction 2018 2nd quarter 27.1
F Construction 2018 3rd quarter 32.5
F Construction 2018 4th quarter 33.3
F Construction 2019 1st quarter 31.2
G Wholesale and retail trade 2017 1st quarter 19.3
G Wholesale and retail trade 2017 2nd quarter 21.0
G Wholesale and retail trade 2017 3rd quarter 24.9
G Wholesale and retail trade 2017 4th quarter 17.5
G Wholesale and retail trade 2018 1st quarter 23.3
G Wholesale and retail trade 2018 2nd quarter 17.8
G Wholesale and retail trade 2018 3rd quarter 20.0
G Wholesale and retail trade 2018 4th quarter 15.9
G Wholesale and retail trade 2019 1st quarter 11.8
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2017 1st quarter 8.8
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2017 2nd quarter 9.5
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2017 3rd quarter 15.4
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2017 4th quarter 13.2
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2018 1st quarter 12.3
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2018 2nd quarter 4.1
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2018 3rd quarter 5.8
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2018 4th quarter 11.2
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2019 1st quarter 5.5
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2017 1st quarter 2.7
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2017 2nd quarter 9.1
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2017 3rd quarter 6.3
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2017 4th quarter 7.4
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2018 1st quarter 9.2
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2018 2nd quarter 6.7
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2018 3rd quarter -0.8
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2018 4th quarter 2.7
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2019 1st quarter -5.1
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2017 1st quarter 25.2
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2017 2nd quarter 27.4
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2017 3rd quarter 30.2
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2017 4th quarter 19.9
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2018 1st quarter 29.3
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2018 2nd quarter 25.3
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2018 3rd quarter 27.8
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2018 4th quarter 18.4
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2019 1st quarter 15.3
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2017 1st quarter 12.0
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2017 2nd quarter 9.0
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2017 3rd quarter 15.1
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2017 4th quarter 14.7
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2018 1st quarter 14.8
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2018 2nd quarter 2.4
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2018 3rd quarter 8.6
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2018 4th quarter 12.6
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2019 1st quarter 4.9
H Transportation and storage 2017 1st quarter 8.1
H Transportation and storage 2017 2nd quarter 7.4
H Transportation and storage 2017 3rd quarter 7.5
H Transportation and storage 2017 4th quarter 8.0
H Transportation and storage 2018 1st quarter 12.1
H Transportation and storage 2018 2nd quarter 9.1
H Transportation and storage 2018 3rd quarter 7.6
H Transportation and storage 2018 4th quarter 8.3
H Transportation and storage 2019 1st quarter -0.2
I Accommodation and food serving 2017 1st quarter 14.9
I Accommodation and food serving 2017 2nd quarter 19.8
I Accommodation and food serving 2017 3rd quarter 21.5
I Accommodation and food serving 2017 4th quarter 13.0
I Accommodation and food serving 2018 1st quarter 18.4
I Accommodation and food serving 2018 2nd quarter 12.0
I Accommodation and food serving 2018 3rd quarter 12.3
I Accommodation and food serving 2018 4th quarter 11.2
I Accommodation and food serving 2019 1st quarter 11.9
J Information and communication 2017 1st quarter 11.5
J Information and communication 2017 2nd quarter 23.4
J Information and communication 2017 3rd quarter 17.1
J Information and communication 2017 4th quarter 13.3
J Information and communication 2018 1st quarter 15.2
J Information and communication 2018 2nd quarter 21.3
J Information and communication 2018 3rd quarter 24.6
J Information and communication 2018 4th quarter 16.4
J Information and communication 2019 1st quarter 13.7
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2017 1st quarter 19.6
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2017 2nd quarter 10.4
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2017 3rd quarter 11.0
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2017 4th quarter 5.4
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2018 1st quarter 8.2
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2018 2nd quarter 10.5
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2018 3rd quarter 6.7
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2018 4th quarter 1.0
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2019 1st quarter 3.5
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


Business confidence is a sentiment indicator for the Dutch private sector, which indicates the direction in which the Dutch economy (gross domestic product, GDP) is expected to develop. When assessing the results, it can be assumed that the more optimistic or pessimistic the entrepreneurs are, the more the value of business confidence will deviate positively or negatively from the zero line and the greater the expectation is that the development of GDP will increase or decrease in the coming months. Business confidence in the total Dutch private sector is a weighted average of the confidence indicators of the underlying sectors/industries, which together form a representative reflection of the Dutch business community from a economic vieuwpoint. In addition to the quarterly series of business confidence, confidence indicators are also available on a monthly basis for the manufacturing industry and some underlying industries. These are published in a separate table under the name Producer confidence; sentiment indicator of manufacturing industry, branches. The results for the months of January, April, July and October correspond with the indicators manufacturing industry of Business confidence in quarters 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

Data available from: 4th quarter 2008 - 2nd quarter 2023.

Changes as of July 27, 2023:
This table has been discontinued. The reason for this is the renewed method for calculating the business confidence.

When will new figures be published?
Does not apply.
This table is followed by Business confidence; to sector/branches (active on August 15, 2023). See paragraph 3.

Statistics Netherlands is currently working on adjustments to the definition of the Business Confidence indicator. The aim is to improve the comparability between industries and between regional and national figures. The adjustments will come into effect when the results for the third quarter of 2023 are published. More information will follow at www.cbs.nl.

Description topics

Business confidence
Business confidence is a sentiment indicator for the Dutch private sector, which indicates the direction in which the Dutch economy (gross domestic product, GDP) is expected to develop.