Netherlands: Business confidence eases but remains optimistic in April
Business confidence came in at 3.0 in April, down from March’s 4.0. Consequently, the index remained above the 0-threshold, signaling optimism among businesses.
Manufacturers became less positive about their order books and future output. Meanwhile, their opinion regarding current stock levels was unchanged. Looking at specific sectors, confidence in the electrotechnical and machinery industry moderated but remained the highest, ahead of transport equipment producers, whose confidence rose sharply during the month. Meanwhile, timber and building materials producers were the most pessimistic, with their confidence falling significantly during the month.