Manufacturers less pessimistic
Dutch manufacturers were less pessimistic in May 2013 than in April. The producer confidence indicator climbed from -5.6 to -4.2. Prior to May’s improvement, confidence had deteriorated in March and April.
Producer confidence consists of three component indicators: manufacturers’ opinions on their order positions, their opinions on their stocks of finished products and the projected output over the next three months. In May, manufacturers were notably less negative about their projected output over the next three months and their order positions. Their opinions on their stocks of finished products also improved.
Producer confidence in manufacturing industry
Manufacturers were also slightly less negative in May about future employment in their sector; 19 percent anticipated staff cuts during the next three months, but nearly 8 percent expected employment to improve. The balance of positive and negative answers (-11) improved for the third month in a row.
Expectations workforce next three months
More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.
For more information on economic indicators, the reader is referred to the Economic Monitor.