The Conjuncture Clock is a tool for determining the state and development of the Dutch economy. The Conjuncture Clock brings together virtually all important economic information that CBS has published during the past month or quarter. The economic outlook according to the Conjuncture Clock is a macroeconomic picture and does not apply equally to all households, businesses, or regions.
Consumers and producers were more negative in February than in January. Producer confidence was above the average of the past twenty years, while consumer confidence was below it.
The volume (working day adjusted) of goods exports was 7.1 percent higher in December than in December 2024. Companies mainly exported more machinery and petroleum products.
In December 2025, households consumed 0.8 percent more than in December 2024 (adjusted for price changes and shopping days). They bought both more services and goods.
In December 2025, the volume of investments in tangible fixed assets was 2.6 percent lower than a year earlier. There was especially less investment in other road transport (trucks, trailers, vans, etc.) and airplanes. Investments in passenger cars, buildings, machinery (including defense equipment), and infrastructure were higher than in December 2024.
The calendar-adjusted production of the Dutch industry was 1.3 percent higher in December than in December 2024. Adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects, production increased by 0.5 percent compared to November.
In January, 15 more companies (including sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt than in December, adjusted for court days. This is an increase of 6 percent.
In January, prices of existing owner-occupied homes were on average 5.4 percent higher than a year earlier. For the tenth consecutive month, the price increase is flattening. Compared to December 2025, prices rose by 1.2 percent on average.
In January 2026, there were 415 thousand unemployed. The number of unemployed increased by an average of 1 thousand per month over the past three months. This means 4.0 percent of the labor force aged 15 to 75 was unemployed, the same as in the previous four months.
Employees and self-employed worked a total of over 3.7 billion hours in the fourth quarter. This is 0.3 percent less than in the previous quarter, adjusted for seasonal influences.
At the end of the fourth quarter, there were 380 thousand vacancies open, a decrease of 7 thousand. The number of vacancies has been declining almost every quarter for three years.
The turnover of employment agencies and labor mediation was 0.9 percent higher in the third quarter of this year than in the same quarter of 2024.
According to the first estimate from CBS, gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the third quarter. The increase in GDP is mainly due to exports and government consumption.
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