However, producer confidence in August remains below the 20-year average of -1.3. It reached an all-time high (10.4) in October 2021 and an all-time low (-31.5) in April 2020.
Manufacturers’ assessment of expected output for the next three months was more positive than it was in June. They were also less negative about their current stocks of finished products and order positions. Manufacturers who anticipated an increase in output over the next three months outnumbered those expecting a decrease.
However, two other component indicators were negative. Manufacturers were more likely to indicate that their order position was weak rather than strong for the time of year, and more manufacturers described their current stock of finished products as large rather than small.
Confidence was negative in almost all industrial sectors. Only manufacturers in ‘other industries’ (such as repair and installation of machinery and furniture) were positive in August. However, manufacturers in textiles and clothes sector declined further to -7.2 in August from -5.1 in July.
In June, the calendar-adjusted output of the Dutch manufacturing sector was 0.2 per cent lower than it was in June 2024. Manufacturing output fell by 0.1 per cent relative to May, after adjusting for seasonal and calendar effects.
ALCHEMPro News Desk (RR)
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