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. source: National Bank of Belgium

Business Confidence in Belgium increased to -13.30 points in May from -14.20 points in April of 2026. Business Confidence in Belgium averaged -7.31 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 June of 2026.

Business Confidence in Belgium increased to -13.30 points in May from -14.20 points in April of 2026. Business Confidence in Belgium is expected to be -16.00 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
2026-04-24 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Apr -14.2 -13.7 -13.2 -14.8
2026-05-22 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
May -13.3 -14.2 -13.5 -14.6
2026-06-24 01:00 PM
Business Confidence
Jun -13.3 -16


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies 1050.00 1206.00 Companies Apr 2026
Business Confidence -13.30 -14.20 points May 2026
Capacity Utilization 75.90 76.90 percent Jun 2026
New Passenger Car Registrations 33625.00 37802.00 Units May 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 5206.97 5097.06 Gigawatt-hour Mar 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 Jun 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Injection 6.36 30.57 GWh/d Jun 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Inventory 1.68 1.67 TWh Jun 2026
Natural Gas Stocks Withdrawal 0.00 0.00 GWh/d Jun 2026
New Car Registrations YoY -2.10 0.00 percent May 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
-13.30 -14.20 10.10 -36.10 1980 - 2026 points Monthly

News Stream
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
Belgium Business Pessimism Deepens
Belgium's business confidence indicator declined to -14.2 points in April 2026, down from -13.7 points both in February and January, marking the lowest sentiment in a year. Against market expectations of a slight increase, sentiment lowered in most sectors. Confidence in building work dropped (-15.7 versus -11.7), reflecting slightly weaker order books alongside a sharp rise in price expectations. In the business services sector, confidence continued its downward trend (-11.6 versus -6.3) as demand expectations weakened. Similarly, trade sentiment declined (-14.8 versus -10.9), driven by a poorer assessment of stock levels and rising price trends. In contrast, manufacturing confidence edged up (-14.4 versus -16.1), supported by improved stock assessments and a more favorable trend in domestic orders.
2026-04-24
Belgium's Business Confidence Remains Subdued in March
Belgium's business confidence indicator remained subdued at -13.7 points in March 2026, unchanged from February and better than the -14.1 forecast. In the building industry, confidence fell 4.6 points to -11.7 as business leaders assessed total order books more negatively and expected demand to decline faster. Business-related services saw confidence decline for the fourth straight month, down 2.0 points to -6.3, with leaders viewing current activity more favorably but future prospects considerably more pessimistically. Manufacturing confidence remained near its low level last month, edging up 1.0 point to -17.1, with stock levels assessed somewhat more positively. The trade sector rose sharply, rising 7.0 points to -10.9, driven by substantial improvement in demand expectations.
2026-03-25