Business confidence rises in January by highest percentage since 2011

Business confidence in Belgium rose in January, when the country achieved an overall synthetic business curve of 1.8 percentage points, after slipping to 0.1 point the month before, the National Bank of Belgium announced on Thursday.

The last time a higher overall synthetic business curve was attained was in April 2011, when business confidence grew by 2.8 points. January’s growth in business leaders’ confidence in the economy was also higher than the average for the 1980-2018 period, which was -7.3 percentage points.

The improvement in the business climate in January was across the board: it was slight in manufacturing, high in trade and corporate services, and higher still in construction.

The smoothed overall synthetic curve, which has a two-month delay and reflects the underlying trend in the economy, increased by 0.9 percentage point in January.


The author: Michel THEYS

Michel Theys, a Belgian native, began his career as a civil servant, serving the public for several decades. After retirement, he shifted gears to follow his passion for journalism. With a background in public administration, Theys brought a unique perspective to his reporting. His insightful articles, covering a wide array of topics, swiftly gained recognition. Today, Michel Theys is a respected journalist known for his balanced and thoughtful reporting in the Belgian media landscape.

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