Belgium Business Confidence Rises Again, Tops Expectations

(RTTNews) - Belgium's business confidence improved again and topped expectations in October, due to better morale in the trade, construction and business services sectors, a survey by the National Bank of Belgium showed Friday.

The business confidence index climbed to -1.8 from -2.2 in September. Economists had forecast a score of -1.5.

Sentiment in the construction and business services sectors rebounded after two months of decline. "In retail trade, just as in the building industry and business services, the improvement is essentially based on a clear upturn in demand forecasts," the report said.

Meanwhile, confidence weakened in the manufacturing sector, mainly due to a downward revision of the order book assessment.

The survey also found that the manufacturing capacity utilization rate climbed to 80.4 percent in October from 79.6 percent in July.