Dutch manufacturers were just as negative in January 2013 as in December 2012. The producer confidence indicator remained stable at -5.6. In the preceding two months, the mood among manufacturers had improved.

Producer confidence consists of three component indicators: the expected output over the next three months, manufacturers' opinions on their order positions and opinions on their stocks of finished products.

In January, manufacturers' opinions on their stocks and their order positions improved marginally, but they were somewhat more pessimistic about their future output.

Producer confidence in manufacturing industry

Manufacturers were less pessimistic about future employment in their sector in January. More than 19 percent anticipated staff cuts in the next three months, whereas nearly 7 percent expected employment to improve. With a score of -13 expectations about the future workforce were obviously less negative than in December (-19).

Expectations workforce next three months

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.

For more information on economic indicators, the reader is referred to the Economic Monitor.

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