Belgium’s business confidence indicator increased by 1.1 point to -12.1 in September 2026, from -13.2 in August, contrasting with market expectations of a further decline to -13.5. Sentiment improved in manufacturing (-12.2 vs -17.8), reflecting greater optimism in building materials and flat glass (-24.9 vs -45), the manufacture of ferrous and non-ferrous basic metals (-10.9 vs -34.9), and capital goods (-7.7 vs -14.6). Confidence also improved in roofing activities (10.7 vs 9.9). In contrast, pessimism deepened in construction-related services, including structural building work (-11.8 vs -7.7), construction installation (-8.3 vs -1.9), and building completion and finishing (-20 vs -10.4), as well as business-related services (-13.4 vs -1.4) and trade (-8.6 vs -5.6). source: National Bank of Belgium

Business Confidence in Belgium increased to -12.10 points in September from -13.20 points in August 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 October of 2026.

Business Confidence in Belgium increased to -12.10 points in September from -13.20 points in August 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
2026-08-25 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Aug -13.2 -11.9 -10.5 -11
2026-09-24 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Sep -12.1 -13.2 -13.5 -13
2026-10-23 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Oct -12.1 -13


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 487.00 691.00 Companies Aug 2026
Business Confidence -12.10 -13.20 points Sep 2026
Capacity Utilization 75.10 75.90 percent Sep 2026
New Passenger Car Registrations 32124.00 28295.00 Units Sep 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 4264.22 4293.35 Gigawatt-hour Jul 2026
Industrial Production YoY -5.60 -3.50 percent Jul 2026
Industrial Production MoM -0.20 -0.60 percent Jul 2026
Manufacturing Production -4.70 -1.60 percent Jul 2026
Mining Production -4.84 -4.71 percent Jul 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Capacity 7.61 7.61 TWh Oct 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Injection 24.44 0.42 GWh/d Oct 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Inventory 4.75 4.72 TWh Oct 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Withdrawal 0.00 0.00 GWh/d Oct 2026
New Car Registrations YoY 1.90 8.30 percent Sep 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
-12.10 -13.20 10.10 -36.10 1980 - 2026 points Monthly
SA

News Stream
Belgium Business Pessimism Eases
Belgium’s business confidence indicator increased by 1.1 point to -12.1 in September 2026, from -13.2 in August, contrasting with market expectations of a further decline to -13.5. Sentiment improved in manufacturing (-12.2 vs -17.8), reflecting greater optimism in building materials and flat glass (-24.9 vs -45), the manufacture of ferrous and non-ferrous basic metals (-10.9 vs -34.9), and capital goods (-7.7 vs -14.6). Confidence also improved in roofing activities (10.7 vs 9.9). In contrast, pessimism deepened in construction-related services, including structural building work (-11.8 vs -7.7), construction installation (-8.3 vs -1.9), and building completion and finishing (-20 vs -10.4), as well as business-related services (-13.4 vs -1.4) and trade (-8.6 vs -5.6).
2026-09-24
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