Economic picture more positive

Household consumption is growing, investment and exports are shrinking

In March 2022, consumers will have 11.2 procents more than in March 2021. They spent mainly on services and durable goods. Growth is slightly less than in February 2022. Last year there was still a lockdown in March.

The volume of merchandise exports was in March 1.9 processnt less than in March 2021. One month earlier, exports were still growing by 1.5 srocent. In particular, fewer oil products, agricultural products and ships were exported in March than the year before. Exports of machinery, chemical products and metal products, on the other hand, grew.

In March 2022, the volume of investments in property, plant and equipment was 34 percentgraft less than a year earlier. This is primarily due to the fact that investments were made in aircraft in March 2021 and not in March 2022. More was invested in buildings and passenger cars.

The manufacturing industry is growing by more than 7 percent in March

The average daily output of Dutch industry was 7th in March.2 prochigher than in March 2021. One month earlier, growth was 10.4 procgraft.

Historically low number of bankruptcies in April

The number of companies declared bankrupt, corrected for session days, has decreased. 71 fewer companies were declared bankrupt in April than in March. The number of bankruptcies was at its lowest level since the start of statistics in 1981.

Rise in owner-occupied housing 19.7 percent more expensive in April

Existing owner-occupied housing was April 1st9.7 proct more expensive than a year earlier. In March, the price increase was 19.5 procent.

More working hours and vacancies, fewer unemployed

Wage earners and the self-employed worked a total of approximately 3.6 billion hours in the first quarter of 2022. That is, adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, 4 percentgraft more than a quarter earlier.

At the end of March there were 451 thousandend vacancies open, 59 thousandmore than at the end of the fourth quarter. This makes the increase stronger than in the previous two quarters, and the record from the previous quarter (392transmit) exceeded.

In April 2022, there were 316 thousandd unemployed, 3.2 processnt of the workforce. The number of unemployed increased on average by 1st in the months of February-April3 thousandend of the month.

The turnover of temp agencies and job agencies increased. in the 4th quarter of 2021 4.8 proøre compared to a quarter earlier. Compared to a year earlier, revenue increased by 14.5 percentgraft.