Belgium’s business confidence indicator declined by 1.3 points to -13.2 in August 2026, from -11.9 in July, contrasting with market expectations for an improvement to -10.2. Sentiment deteriorated in the manufacturing industry, falling to -17.8 from -15.5, led by weaker confidence in textiles (-13.3 vs -13), wood processing (-33.6 vs -18.3), paper (-15.9 vs 10.4) and ferrous and non-ferrous basic metals (-34.9 vs -25.3). Confidence in structural building also declined, to -7.7 from -5. Meanwhile, sentiment improved in construction installation (-1.9 vs -3), building completion (-10.4 vs -13.4) and roofing activities (9.9 vs 4.8). Business-related services also improved (-1.4 vs -3.8), as did sentiment in the trade sector (-5.2 vs -10.8), driven by stronger confidence in motor vehicle sales (12.6 vs -10.8). source: National Bank of Belgium

Business Confidence in Belgium decreased to -13.20 points in August from -11.90 points in July of 2026. Business Confidence in Belgium averaged -7.34 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 September of 2026.

Business Confidence in Belgium decreased to -13.20 points in August from -11.90 points in July 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
2026-07-24 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Jul -11.9 -12.4 -10.2 -12
2026-08-25 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Aug -13.2 -11.9 -10.5 -11
2026-09-24 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Sep -13.2 -13


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 689.00 1185.00 Companies Jul 2026
Business Confidence -13.20 -11.90 points Aug 2026
Capacity Utilization 75.10 75.90 percent Sep 2026
New Passenger Car Registrations 28295.00 29274.00 Units Aug 2026
Changes in Inventories 92.00 2523.30 EUR Million Jun 2026
Corruption Index 69.00 69.00 Points Dec 2025
Corruption Rank 21.00 22.00 Dec 2025
Electricity Production 4293.35 3955.15 Gigawatt-hour Jun 2026
Industrial Production YoY -2.80 4.60 percent Jun 2026
Industrial Production MoM -1.10 -1.90 percent Jun 2026
Manufacturing Production -0.40 7.80 percent Jun 2026
Mining Production -4.61 -1.98 percent Jun 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Capacity 7.61 7.61 TWh Sep 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Injection 0.49 24.77 GWh/d Sep 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Inventory 4.50 4.50 TWh Sep 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Withdrawal 0.00 0.00 GWh/d Sep 2026
New Car Registrations YoY 8.30 -7.40 percent Aug 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
-13.20 -11.90 10.10 -36.10 1980 - 2026 points Monthly
SA

News Stream
Belgium Business Pessimism Worsens
Belgium’s business confidence indicator declined by 1.3 points to -13.2 in August 2026, from -11.9 in July, contrasting with market expectations for an improvement to -10.2. Sentiment deteriorated in the manufacturing industry, falling to -17.8 from -15.5, led by weaker confidence in textiles (-13.3 vs -13), wood processing (-33.6 vs -18.3), paper (-15.9 vs 10.4) and ferrous and non-ferrous basic metals (-34.9 vs -25.3). Confidence in structural building also declined, to -7.7 from -5. Meanwhile, sentiment improved in construction installation (-1.9 vs -3), building completion (-10.4 vs -13.4) and roofing activities (9.9 vs 4.8). Business-related services also improved (-1.4 vs -3.8), as did sentiment in the trade sector (-5.2 vs -10.8), driven by stronger confidence in motor vehicle sales (12.6 vs -10.8).
2026-08-25
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