Economic picture mid-April 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.

Consumer confidence unchanged, producer confidence down

In March, consumer confidence was the same as in February, while producer confidence was less favourable. Both consumer and producer confidence are above the long-term average.
Approximately 85 percent of the respondents participating in the consumer confidence survey and 90 percent of the respondents participating in the producer confidence survey had already responded to the survey before the far-reaching measures against the spread of coronavirus came into effect on Thursday 12 March. The effect of these measures is not yet (fully) reflected in the consumer and producer confidence measurements for March.

Investments, exports and household consumption growing

The total volume of goods exports grew by 3.3 percent in February year-on-year. Growth was slightly lower than in the previous month (3.9 percent). In February 2020, exports of machinery and petroleum products increased in particular.

The volume of investments in tangible fixed assets was 2.3 percent up in January 2019 relative to the same month last year. This was mainly due to higher investments in the construction sector.

Dutch consumers spent 1.0 percent more in January 2020 than in January 2019. The growth rate was considerably lower than in December (2.9 percent). This was due to lower natural gas consumption, among other things.

Manufacturing output 1.3 percent down in February

In February 2020, the average daily output generated by the Dutch manufacturing industry was 1.3 percent down on the same month last year. Output showed a year-on-year increase of almost 1 percent in the preceding month.

Fewer bankruptcies in March

The number of corporate bankruptcies has deteriorated. There were 13 less bankruptcies in March 2020 than in the previous month. The trend has been relatively stable in recent years.

The figures for the reporting month of March do not yet or barely reflect the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Several weeks may pass between the date of filing for bankruptcy and the court decision. As of week 14, Dutch courts are granting a longer application period of at least four weeks in cases of a bankruptcy petition being made (i.e. by claimants), unless the procedures are deemed urgent. In addition, the Dutch government has established an emergency package for the economy and the job market in order to provide the proper support to Dutch businesses.

Number of jobs continues to grow

In Q4 2019, the number of full-time and part-time jobs held by employees and self-employed rose by 53 thousand to 10,751 thousand jobs. This is an increase of 0.5 percent relative to the previous quarter. Compared to Q4 2018, the number of jobs grew by 189 thousand, an increase of 1.8 percent.

The number of jobs has grown for almost six consecutive years. Since Q2 2014, it has increased by 1,023 thousand.

The total number of hours worked by employees and self-employed reached a total of almost 3.5 billion in Q4 2019. When adjusted for seasonal effects, this is 0.8 percent more than in the previous quarter.

At the end of December, the number of job vacancies stood at 291 thousand, up by over 3 thousand compared to the previous quarter.

Tension in the labour market has grown slightly. In Q4 2019, there were on average 92 job vacancies per 100 unemployed. In Q3 2019, there were 90 vacancies per 100 unemployed.

In February, there were 274 thousand unemployed (according to the ILO definition). In the past three months, unemployment fell by an average of 17 thousand per month. The number of unemployed in February is equivalent to 2.9 percent of the labour force. For the first time since 2003 - the first year for which monthly figures are available - this percentage is below 3.0.

0.4 percent GDP growth in Q4 2019

According to the second estimate of GDP conducted by CBS, gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.4 percent in Q4 2019 relative to the previous quarter. Growth was mainly due to consumption and investments. GDP grew by 1.6 percent relative to Q4 2018.

On Friday 15 May 2020, CBS will publish the first estimate of GDP and employment over Q1 2020.