25.03.202614:43:08UTC+00Belgium's Business Confidence Remains Subdued in March

Belgium’s business confidence indicator remained weak at -13.7 points in March 2026, unchanged from February and slightly better than the -14.1 expected. In the construction sector, confidence dropped 4.6 points to -11.7, as business leaders took a more negative view of total order books and anticipated a faster decline in demand. Business-related services posted a fourth consecutive monthly decline in confidence, falling 2.0 points to -6.3. Executives in this sector assessed current activity somewhat more positively, but were markedly more pessimistic about future prospects. Manufacturing confidence stayed close to last month’s low level, inching up 1.0 point to -17.1, with stock levels judged slightly more favorably. By contrast, sentiment in the trade sector improved strongly, jumping 7.0 points to -10.9, supported by a significant upgrade in demand expectations.