Business confidence rose from 10.6 to 12.0 in the second quarter of 2019, according to the Netherlands Business Survey. This means the indicator rose by 1.4 points compared to the first quarter of 2019.
In the construction (27.8), information and communication (17.9) and wholesale (13.4) sectors, business confidence is above average. Entrepreneurs in industry (6.7), mining (-1.0) and the automotive sector (-5.3) are more negative.
On balance, 27.6 percent of entrepreneurs expect to turn over more in the second quarter compared to a year earlier. Expectations for personnel (18.3%), tariff increase (12.7%), export (10.3%) and investments (9.0%) are also positive on balance.
However, entrepreneurs also encounter obstacles. Almost a quarter of entrepreneurs experience a shortage of labor. Insufficient demand (8.2%), financial constraints (5.3%), constraints on means of production (4.6%), weather conditions (4.6%) and other (6.4%) are the other obstacles. Almost half of entrepreneurs do not experience any obstacles.
The Dutch Business Survey – a collaboration between CBS, EIB, KvK, MKB Nederland and VNO-NCW – questions entrepreneurs every quarter about topics that concern them, such as turnover developments, profitability, investments and staffing levels. They are asked about their experiences in the past quarter and their expectations for the current quarter.
You can download the complete survey at Entrepreneurs' Square of the Chamber of Commerce.
Nederlands