Belgium's business confidence indicator declined to -14.2 points in April 2026, down from -13.7 points both in February and January, marking the lowest sentiment in a year. Against market expectations of a slight increase, sentiment lowered in most sectors. Confidence in building work dropped (-15.7 versus -11.7), reflecting slightly weaker order books alongside a sharp rise in price expectations. In the business services sector, confidence continued its downward trend (-11.6 versus -6.3) as demand expectations weakened. Similarly, trade sentiment declined (-14.8 versus -10.9), driven by a poorer assessment of stock levels and rising price trends. In contrast, manufacturing confidence edged up (-14.4 versus -16.1), supported by improved stock assessments and a more favorable trend in domestic orders.