Mood among providers of business services deteriorates slightly

Dutch providers of business services were even more pessimistic in February than in January. For the third month in a row, the number of business service providers expecting turnover to grow was outnumbered by those anticipating a turnover decline. On balance, 19 percent of providers of business services expected to generate a lower turnover in the next three months.

Business service providers were more pessimistic about employment in their branch than one month previously. On balance, 28 percent expected to have to reduce staff in the next three months, compared with 19 percent in January. 

The mood with regard to the economic climate was more negative than ever. Altogether, 61 percent of business service providers thought the economic climate had deteriorated in February, compared to 54 percent in January. Companies providing business services indicated that turnover and employment had declined in the last three months.