Netherlands: Economic sentiment records worst reading since January 2024 in May
Latest reading: Economic sentiment fell to 96.8 in May from April’s 97.6. May’s result marked the worst reading since January 2024. Consequently, the index remained below the long-term average of 100, pointing to a muted near-term outlook for the economy.
The headline print reflected worse sentiment in the industrial, retail and construction sectors. Moreover, confidence in the services sector softened in May. Finally, consumer confidence rose in May.
Regarding indicators that are not used to calculate the index, employment expectations were healthier, while the economic uncertainty index improved in May.