Netherlands: Business confidence continues to moderate going into the second quarter
In April, business confidence in the Dutch manufacturing sector recorded a second consecutive drop, with sentiment decreasing from 9.5 in March to 8.2—the lowest reading since October 2017. However, confidence among firms remained firmly above the crucial zero-point mark that separates optimism from pessimism; it also stayed well-anchored above the long-term average of 0.8 over the past 20 years.
Manufacturers have remained optimistic for the 17th consecutive month, and all sub-indicators remained elevated in April. Nonetheless, firms’ view on output expectations and their stock of finished products decreased from the prior month. All sub-branches of the manufacturing sector remained optimistic, with producers in the wood and building materials sub-sector being the most upbeat.