Business confidence; sector/branches 2008-2023

Business confidence; sector/branches 2008-2023

Sectors/Branches Periods Business confidence (%)
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2021 1st quarter -6.0
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2021 2nd quarter 2.3
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2021 3rd quarter 18.4
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2021 4th quarter 19.9
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2022 1st quarter 6.4
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2022 2nd quarter 16.8
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2022 3rd quarter 8.2
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2022 4th quarter -0.9
All enterprises (no finance or energy) 2023 1st quarter 6.4
M-N Business services 2021 1st quarter -3.3
M-N Business services 2021 2nd quarter 6.5
M-N Business services 2021 3rd quarter 16.2
M-N Business services 2021 4th quarter 20.0
M-N Business services 2022 1st quarter 12.4
M-N Business services 2022 2nd quarter 12.9
M-N Business services 2022 3rd quarter 8.6
M-N Business services 2022 4th quarter 3.3
M-N Business services 2023 1st quarter 8.7
B Mining and quarrying 2021 1st quarter -16.3
B Mining and quarrying 2021 2nd quarter -4.8
B Mining and quarrying 2021 3rd quarter 15.2
B Mining and quarrying 2021 4th quarter 22.1
B Mining and quarrying 2022 1st quarter 4.5
B Mining and quarrying 2022 2nd quarter -2.0
B Mining and quarrying 2022 3rd quarter 1.5
B Mining and quarrying 2022 4th quarter -19.6
B Mining and quarrying 2023 1st quarter -6.6
C Manufacturing 2021 1st quarter 0.6
C Manufacturing 2021 2nd quarter 6.5
C Manufacturing 2021 3rd quarter 12.3
C Manufacturing 2021 4th quarter 12.3
C Manufacturing 2022 1st quarter 9.0
C Manufacturing 2022 2nd quarter 10.8
C Manufacturing 2022 3rd quarter 8.4
C Manufacturing 2022 4th quarter 2.5
C Manufacturing 2023 1st quarter 3.6
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2021 1st quarter -5.0
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2021 2nd quarter 0.4
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2021 3rd quarter 6.6
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2021 4th quarter 5.8
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2022 1st quarter 3.2
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2022 2nd quarter 7.8
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2022 3rd quarter 2.2
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2022 4th quarter -4.5
10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 2023 1st quarter -1.6
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2021 1st quarter 1.7
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2021 2nd quarter 0.8
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2021 3rd quarter 18.6
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2021 4th quarter 12.4
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2022 1st quarter 10.2
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2022 2nd quarter 14.6
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2022 3rd quarter 5.3
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2022 4th quarter 3.2
13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 2023 1st quarter 4.8
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2021 1st quarter 9.1
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2021 2nd quarter 20.5
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2021 3rd quarter 18.8
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2021 4th quarter 22.8
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2022 1st quarter 20.0
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2022 2nd quarter 16.9
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2022 3rd quarter 5.4
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2022 4th quarter -3.8
16+23 Man of wooden and buildingmaterial 2023 1st quarter 5.8
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2021 1st quarter -2.1
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2021 2nd quarter 2.8
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2021 3rd quarter 13.7
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2021 4th quarter 12.3
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2022 1st quarter 11.4
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2022 2nd quarter 8.2
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2022 3rd quarter 2.5
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2022 4th quarter -3.4
17-18 Manufacture of paper and printing 2023 1st quarter -3.1
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2021 1st quarter 3.4
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2021 2nd quarter 9.5
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2021 3rd quarter 11.2
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2021 4th quarter 11.7
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2022 1st quarter 8.8
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2022 2nd quarter 6.6
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2022 3rd quarter 4.5
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2022 4th quarter -7.7
19-22 Refineries and chemistry 2023 1st quarter -6.0
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2021 1st quarter 2.7
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2021 2nd quarter 5.9
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2021 3rd quarter 10.7
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2021 4th quarter 12.0
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2022 1st quarter 8.4
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2022 2nd quarter 6.7
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2022 3rd quarter 5.4
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2022 4th quarter 2.5
24-25 Man. of basic metals and -products 2023 1st quarter 4.5
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2021 1st quarter 5.8
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2021 2nd quarter 14.9
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2021 3rd quarter 23.2
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2021 4th quarter 24.6
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2022 1st quarter 16.4
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2022 2nd quarter 22.8
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2022 3rd quarter 24.1
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2022 4th quarter 18.6
26-28 Manufact of electronics, machinery 2023 1st quarter 16.1
29-30 Transport equipment 2021 1st quarter 2.5
29-30 Transport equipment 2021 2nd quarter 12.4
29-30 Transport equipment 2021 3rd quarter 15.8
29-30 Transport equipment 2021 4th quarter 4.0
29-30 Transport equipment 2022 1st quarter 18.9
29-30 Transport equipment 2022 2nd quarter 15.1
29-30 Transport equipment 2022 3rd quarter 8.0
29-30 Transport equipment 2022 4th quarter 15.3
29-30 Transport equipment 2023 1st quarter 14.1
F Construction 2021 1st quarter 12.1
F Construction 2021 2nd quarter 14.3
F Construction 2021 3rd quarter 13.2
F Construction 2021 4th quarter 24.9
F Construction 2022 1st quarter 23.1
F Construction 2022 2nd quarter 12.5
F Construction 2022 3rd quarter 18.6
F Construction 2022 4th quarter 9.7
F Construction 2023 1st quarter 12.6
G Wholesale and retail trade 2021 1st quarter -4.5
G Wholesale and retail trade 2021 2nd quarter 7.0
G Wholesale and retail trade 2021 3rd quarter 19.3
G Wholesale and retail trade 2021 4th quarter 16.0
G Wholesale and retail trade 2022 1st quarter 4.9
G Wholesale and retail trade 2022 2nd quarter 12.7
G Wholesale and retail trade 2022 3rd quarter 5.5
G Wholesale and retail trade 2022 4th quarter -1.1
G Wholesale and retail trade 2023 1st quarter 6.6
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2021 1st quarter -12.6
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2021 2nd quarter -2.3
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2021 3rd quarter 7.7
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2021 4th quarter 2.5
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2022 1st quarter -4.2
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2022 2nd quarter 2.6
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2022 3rd quarter 1.7
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2022 4th quarter 1.8
45+47 Retail sale and car trade 2023 1st quarter 5.0
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2021 1st quarter -20.5
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2021 2nd quarter -6.2
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2021 3rd quarter 16.1
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2021 4th quarter 4.8
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2022 1st quarter 1.7
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2022 2nd quarter 4.5
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2022 3rd quarter 3.4
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2022 4th quarter 5.5
45 Sale and repair of motor vehicles 2023 1st quarter 11.6
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2021 1st quarter 0.0
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2021 2nd quarter 12.3
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2021 3rd quarter 25.9
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2021 4th quarter 23.5
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2022 1st quarter 9.9
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2022 2nd quarter 18.4
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2022 3rd quarter 7.7
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2022 4th quarter -2.7
46 Wholesale trade (no motor vehicles) 2023 1st quarter 7.4
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2021 1st quarter -10.4
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2021 2nd quarter -1.6
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2021 3rd quarter 5.7
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2021 4th quarter 1.9
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2022 1st quarter -5.0
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2022 2nd quarter 1.8
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2022 3rd quarter 1.6
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2022 4th quarter 1.0
47 Retail trade (not in motor vehicles) 2023 1st quarter 3.5
H Transportation and storage 2021 1st quarter 2.9
H Transportation and storage 2021 2nd quarter -3.9
H Transportation and storage 2021 3rd quarter 23.0
H Transportation and storage 2021 4th quarter 20.2
H Transportation and storage 2022 1st quarter 14.1
H Transportation and storage 2022 2nd quarter 13.1
H Transportation and storage 2022 3rd quarter 8.7
H Transportation and storage 2022 4th quarter -1.5
H Transportation and storage 2023 1st quarter 3.5
49-96 Total services 2021 1st quarter -11.1
49-96 Total services 2021 2nd quarter -2.4
49-96 Total services 2021 3rd quarter 21.1
49-96 Total services 2021 4th quarter 23.3
49-96 Total services 2022 1st quarter 3.8
49-96 Total services 2022 2nd quarter 21.6
49-96 Total services 2022 3rd quarter 8.0
49-96 Total services 2022 4th quarter -3.0
49-96 Total services 2023 1st quarter 6.7
I Accommodation and food serving 2021 1st quarter -57.1
I Accommodation and food serving 2021 2nd quarter -32.6
I Accommodation and food serving 2021 3rd quarter 39.8
I Accommodation and food serving 2021 4th quarter 34.5
I Accommodation and food serving 2022 1st quarter -35.3
I Accommodation and food serving 2022 2nd quarter 40.9
I Accommodation and food serving 2022 3rd quarter 15.5
I Accommodation and food serving 2022 4th quarter -12.2
I Accommodation and food serving 2023 1st quarter 3.2
J Information and communication 2021 1st quarter 2.2
J Information and communication 2021 2nd quarter 4.9
J Information and communication 2021 3rd quarter 15.7
J Information and communication 2021 4th quarter 21.8
J Information and communication 2022 1st quarter 4.6
J Information and communication 2022 2nd quarter 17.2
J Information and communication 2022 3rd quarter 15.5
J Information and communication 2022 4th quarter 5.9
J Information and communication 2023 1st quarter 10.2
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2021 1st quarter 3.4
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2021 2nd quarter -0.1
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2021 3rd quarter 0.0
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2021 4th quarter 4.6
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2022 1st quarter 6.0
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2022 2nd quarter 6.2
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2022 3rd quarter 0.8
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2022 4th quarter -2.9
L Renting, buying, selling real estate 2023 1st quarter -5.5
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


Business confidence is a sentiment indicator for the Dutch private sector, which indicates the direction in which the Dutch economy (gross domestic product, GDP) is expected to develop. When assessing the results, it can be assumed that the more optimistic or pessimistic the entrepreneurs are, the more the value of business confidence will deviate positively or negatively from the zero line and the greater the expectation is that the development of GDP will increase or decrease in the coming months. Business confidence in the total Dutch private sector is a weighted average of the confidence indicators of the underlying sectors/industries, which together form a representative reflection of the Dutch business community from a economic vieuwpoint. In addition to the quarterly series of business confidence, confidence indicators are also available on a monthly basis for the manufacturing industry and some underlying industries. These are published in a separate table under the name Producer confidence; sentiment indicator of manufacturing industry, branches. The results for the months of January, April, July and October correspond with the indicators manufacturing industry of Business confidence in quarters 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

Data available from: 4th quarter 2008 - 2nd quarter 2023.

Changes as of July 27, 2023:
This table has been discontinued. The reason for this is the renewed method for calculating the business confidence.

When will new figures be published?
Does not apply.
This table is followed by Business confidence; to sector/branches (active on August 15, 2023). See paragraph 3.

Statistics Netherlands is currently working on adjustments to the definition of the Business Confidence indicator. The aim is to improve the comparability between industries and between regional and national figures. The adjustments will come into effect when the results for the third quarter of 2023 are published. More information will follow at www.cbs.nl.

Description topics

Business confidence
Business confidence is a sentiment indicator for the Dutch private sector, which indicates the direction in which the Dutch economy (gross domestic product, GDP) is expected to develop.