Dutch manufacturers far less positive
Since October 2014, optimism has prevailed among Dutch manufacturers. The business confidence indicator reached an all-time high (9.4) in January 2008, but dipped to an all-time low (-23.5) more than one year later.
More negative about future output, less positive about order books and stocks
In August, Dutch manufacturers are more negative about their future output over the next three months than in July. They were also less positive about the size of their order books and their stocks of finished products.
One of the three component indicators of producer confidence is slightly negative in August. Manufacturers anticipating output to decline over the next three months, for example, marginally outnumber those expecting output to grow during this period.
The other two component indicators are positive. Given the time of year, manufacturers who think the number of orders they received is large outnumber those who think the opposite. Lastly, manufacturers who define their stocks of finished products as too small still constitute a majority over those who define their stocks as too large.
Manufacturers of textiles, clothes and leather products most optimistic
Manufacturers in the textiles, clothes and leather industry are most optimistic, followed by their counterparts in paper and printing. Manufacturers in the textiles, clothes and leather industry are very positive about their future output. Producers of transport equipment, on the other hand, are negative, in particular about their order books.
| balance | |
|---|---|
| Textiles,clothes,leather | 9 |
| Paper and printing | 4.7 |
| Petreoleum,chemical,rubber,plastic | 4.3 |
| Food,drinks,tobacco | 3.5 |
| Wood and construction | 2.7 |
| Electrotechnical products and machinery | 1.3 |
| Metal | 0.9 |
| Transport equipment | -2.3 |