Netherlands: Business confidence rises in December
Business confidence rose to 3.3 in December from November’s 3.0. Decembers result marked the best reading since August. As such, the index remained above the 0-threshold, signaling optimism among businesses.
The print reflected more optimism about future output. However, producers were more downbeat about their order positions and the situation of their current stocks. Producer confidence in the electrotechnical and machinery and transport equipment industries remained the highest and increased further in December. Meanwhile, producers in the petroleum and paper and printing industries were again the most pessimistic.