Producer confidence remains stable
Dutch manufacturers were just as negative in June as in May; the producer confidence indicator crept up from -4.2 to -4.1. The number of pessimists among manufacturers has exceeded the number of optimists for two years now.
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. These figures are corrected for seasonal effects among other things. In June, manufacturers were somewhat more negative about their projected output over the next three months. Their mood about their order positions also deteriorated slightly. Opinions on stocks of finished products improved on the other hand.
Producer confidence in manufacturing industry
In June, manufacturers were equally apprehensive about future employment in their sector as in May; 18 percent anticipated staff cuts during the next three months, but nearly 7 percent expected employment to improve. The balance of positive and negative answers remained stable at -11.
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.