BRUSSELS: Belgium business confidence unexpectedly improved for a third straight month in December, as activity level strengthened in all sectors, survey data from the National Bank of Belgium showed Tuesday.
The business confidence indicator rose to -1.4 from -3.9 in November. Economists had expected the score to remain steady.
The confidence measure for the manufacturing industry climbed to -3.7 from -6.3. This was mainly due to better appraisals of firms’ current situation and their forecasts, especially those for demand.
Confidence strengthened for a third successive month in the construction industry and the business-related services sector. The confidence indicator in the building industry surged to -4.7 from -7.3. by The improvement was led by a more favorable trend in the assessment of order books and a more intensive use of equipment.
The indicator for the business services sector moved up to 12.9 from 11. The improvement noted in business-related services was largely due to much more optimistic forecasts for firms’ own business activity as well as for general market demand, although to a lesser extent, the bank said.
In the trade sector, the confidence indicator jumped to -4.8 from -8. Company managers in the trade sector are expecting to substantially increase their orders with suppliers and take on more staff, the survey said.
