Belgium's business confidence indicator rose by 0.5 points to -11.9 in July 2026, up from -12.4 in the prior month. This marked the highest reading since the start of the year and the third consecutive monthly improvement, although below market expectations of -10.2. Sentiment strenghened most in the construction industry, where confidence rebounded to -3.0 from -12.0. Sentiment also edged higher in manufacturing (-15.5 vs. -15.7) and strengthened notably in business-related services (-3.8 vs. -7.4). In contrast, confidence in the trade sector deteriorated further to -10.8 from -9.3, reflecting weaker activity in textiles and electrical and electronic appliances. Meanwhile, confidence remained weak in building completion and finishing (-13.4 vs. -4.3) and structural building work (-5.0 vs. -4.2). source: National Bank of Belgium

Business Confidence in Belgium increased to -11.90 points in July from -12.40 points in June of 2026. Business Confidence in Belgium averaged -7.33 points from 1980 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 10.10 points in July of 2021 and a record low of -36.10 points in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - Belgium Business Confidence - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Belgium Business Confidence - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on August of 2026.

Business Confidence in Belgium increased to -11.90 points in July from -12.40 points in June of 2026. Business Confidence in Belgium is expected to be -13.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Belgium Business Confidence is projected to trend around -10.00 points in 2027 and -8.00 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-24 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Jun -12.4 -13.3 -12 -13
2026-07-24 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Jul -11.9 -12.4 -10.2 -12
2026-08-25 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Aug -11.9 -12


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 1184.00 859.00 Companies Jun 2026
Business Confidence -11.90 -12.40 points Jul 2026
Capacity Utilization 75.90 76.90 percent Jun 2026
New Passenger Car Registrations 29274.00 45449.00 Units Jul 2026
Changes in Inventories 1449.20 3727.20 EUR Million Mar 2026
Corruption Index 69.00 69.00 Points Dec 2025
Corruption Rank 21.00 22.00 Dec 2025
Electricity Production 4045.42 5206.97 Gigawatt-hour Apr 2026
Industrial Production YoY 0.30 5.90 percent Mar 2026
Industrial Production MoM -3.00 -0.10 percent Mar 2026
Manufacturing Production 1.40 8.30 percent Mar 2026
Mining Production 10.72 -1.50 percent Mar 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Capacity 7.61 7.61 TWh Aug 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Injection 62.09 47.59 GWh/d Aug 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Inventory 2.71 2.65 TWh Aug 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Withdrawal 0.00 0.00 GWh/d Aug 2026
New Car Registrations YoY -7.40 9.40 percent Jul 2026


Belgium Business Confidence
In Belgium, the business confidence survey measures the level of optimism that people who run companies have about the current economic situation and how they feel about their organizations’ prospects in the next three months. Every month, a panel of around 6000 business leaders is contacted.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-11.90 -12.40 10.10 -36.10 1980 - 2026 points Monthly
SA

News Stream
Belgium Business Pessimism Eases for Third Month
Belgium's business confidence indicator rose by 0.5 points to -11.9 in July 2026, up from -12.4 in the prior month. This marked the highest reading since the start of the year and the third consecutive monthly improvement, although below market expectations of -10.2. Sentiment strenghened most in the construction industry, where confidence rebounded to -3.0 from -12.0. Sentiment also edged higher in manufacturing (-15.5 vs. -15.7) and strengthened notably in business-related services (-3.8 vs. -7.4). In contrast, confidence in the trade sector deteriorated further to -10.8 from -9.3, reflecting weaker activity in textiles and electrical and electronic appliances. Meanwhile, confidence remained weak in building completion and finishing (-13.4 vs. -4.3) and structural building work (-5.0 vs. -4.2).
2026-07-24
Belgium Business Sentiment Hits 5-Month High
Belgium's business confidence indicator rose by another 0.9 points to -12.4 in June 2026, up from -13.4 in the prior month and compared with analysts' forecasts of -12. It was the best reading since January, with confidence increasing particularly in the construction (-4.2 vs -11.1 in May) and trade (-9.3 vs -14.8) sectors. Business-related services saw a slight improvement in sentiment (-7.4 vs -8.8), in contrast to manufacturing, where confidence continued to weaken (-15.7 vs -14.8).
2026-06-24
Belgium Business Sentiment Improves Slightly
Belgium's business confidence indicator rose by 0.9 points to -13.3 in May 2026, up from a one-year low of -14.2 in the prior month and better than the expected -13.5. The business climate improved primarily in the building industry (-11.1 vs -15.7 in April), supported by continued growth in orders and expectations of stronger demand in the near term. The business-related services sector also saw sentiment strengthen (-8.8 vs -11.6) after declining steadily since December last year, driven by significantly better expectations for future activity and overall demand, even as current activity was viewed less favorably. Trade confidence was unchanged (14.8 vs 14.8), as weaker demand expectations were balanced by improved employment and supplier order forecasts. Meanwhile, manufacturing sentiment fell slightly (-14.8 vs -14.4), with firms more pessimistic on demand and stocks, though order books and hiring plans strengthened.
2026-05-22