Belgium Business Confidence Dips in December
December 23 2021 - 9:30AM
Dow Jones News
By Maria Martinez
Business sentiment in Belgium fell slightly in December, data
from the National Bank of Belgium showed Thursday.
Business confidence decreased to 3.6 in December from 4.2 in
November.
A breakdown of the December print showed a considerable drop in
sentiment in the services sector, confirming November's decline. In
the other segments, only marginal changes were observed: upward in
manufacturing and downward in building industry and the trade
sector, the National Bank of Belgium said.
In the services sector, confidence fell to 10.2 from 15.3 the
previous month. All subcomponents deteriorated in services,
particularly firms' outlook on activity.
In building industry, the slight decline to 1.2 in December from
2.3 in November was mainly due to a contraction in order books and
reduced use of available equipment.
In the trade sector, forecasts for employment and orders placed
with suppliers were revised down. Sentiment in the sector fell to
minus 3.5 in December from minus 2.4 in November.
In manufacturing industry, the only branch of activity where
business confidence hasn't wavered, the indicator rose to 3.1 in
December from 2.5 the previous month. The improvement in the
indicator was entirely due to a more favorable assessment of stock
levels.
Write to Maria Martinez at maria.martinez@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 23, 2021 09:15 ET (14:15 GMT)
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