Economic situation slightly less favourable

The CBS Business Cycle Tracer is a tool used to monitor the situation and the developments in the Dutch economy. It uses thirteen key macro-economic indicators. Together, these provide a coherent macro-economic picture which is based on CBS figures published over the past month or quarter. It does not represent the situation at the level of individual households, businesses or regions.

Consumers less confident, producers more confident

The mood among Dutch consumers has deteriorated again in December compared to the previous month. Producer confidence improved in December. The confidence indicators remain well above their long-term average.

Household consumption, investments and exports growing

The total volume of goods exports grew by 0.6 percent in November relative to November 2017. Relative growth was smaller than in October. The most notable increases in November 2018 were seen in the export of machinery and petroleum products.

The volume of investments in tangible fixed assets was 7.4 percent up in October 2018 relative to the same month one year previously. Investments in dwellings, buildings and machinery were up again.

Dutch household consumption was 1.7 percent up in October 2018 over October 2017. The growth rate was the lowest so far this year. In October 2018, consumers mainly spent more on services.

Manufacturing output over 2 percent up in November

In November 2018, the average daily output generated by the Dutch manufacturing industry was up by 2.1 percent year-on-year. The growth rate was lower than in October. The metal products industry realised the strongest production growth. Adjusted for seasonal variation, manufacturing output reached its highest level ever.

Number of bankruptcies up again

There were 50 more bankruptcies in December than in November 2018. The total number of businesses and institutions (excluding one-man businesses) filing for bankruptcy in 2018 was 3,144. This is the lowest annual figure since 2001.

Number of jobs continues to grow

In Q3 2018, the number of full-time and part-time jobs held by employees and self-employed rose by 56 thousand relative to the previous quarter. It is the seventh consecutive quarter with job growth exceeding 50 thousand. Within one year, the number of jobs grew by 268 thousand.

The total number of hours worked by employees and self-employed reached 3.4 billion in Q3 2018. When adjusted for seasonal effects, this is 0.8 percent more than in Q2.
The number of job vacancies grew by 11 thousand in Q3 2018. As a result, 262 thousand job vacancies were available at the end of the quarter. The number of vacancies reached its highest level ever.

Tension in the labour market increased further in Q3; for each job vacancy there were 1.3 unemployed. The labour market was as tight as in the first three quarters of 2008.

The unemployment rate decreased in November to 3.5 and for the first time it is lower than just before the economic crisis in 2008. Unemployment declined by an average of 9 thousand per month to 326 thousand in November.

GDP growth 0.2 percent in Q3 2018

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.2 percent in Q3 2018 relative to the previous quarter, according to the second estimate of GDP conducted by CBS. GDP grew by 2.4 percent relative to Q3 2017.

On Thursday 14 February 2019, CBS will publish the first estimate of GDP and employment in Q4 2018. In addition, the annual figures over 2018 will be published.