Manufacturers a bit more pessimistic

Dutch manufacturers were a bit more pessimistic in April 2013 than in March. The producer confidence indicator dropped from – 4.8 to – 5.6. April is the second month in a row in which producer confidence deteriorates.

Producer confidence consists of three component indicators: manufacturers’ opinions on their order positions, their opinions on their stocks of finished products and the expected output over the next three months.

Manufacturers were much more negative about their order positions than in March. Their opinions on their stocks also deteriorated, but manufacturers were less pessimistic about their expected output than in the preceding month.

Producer confidence in manufacturing industry

The Dutch manufacturing industry used 75.6 percent of its production capacity in April. This is the lowest level since April 2009. The capacity utilisation rate has dropped almost continually since mid-2011.

Capacity utilisation rate

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.

For more information on economic indicators, see the Economic Monitor.