# Dutch economy grows 0.6% in third quarter

> Statistics Netherlands (CBS) says GDP rose 0.6% between July and September, but unemployment is edging up.

Economy · published 2026-11-09 05:51 · https://nlnow.nl/a/dutch-economy-grows-0-6-in-third-quarter/

The Dutch economy grew 0.6% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the second, according to CBS's first calculation. Growth in the second quarter was 0.7%. The positive trade balance and the build-up of inventories contributed most.

CBS counted 408 thousand unemployed people in September, and the number has risen by an average of 5 thousand a month over the past three months. The unemployment rate was 4.0%, the same as in August. At the end of the third quarter 375 thousand vacancies were open, almost the same as a quarter earlier.

In the October Conjunctuurklok, the economic picture was almost as negative as in September. Consumers were slightly more negative; their confidence remained far below the average of the past twenty years. Producers were less positive, though their confidence stayed above that average.

**The economic picture has improved since mid-2025 but is still below trend** (deviation from long-term trend (0); source: CBS)

- Jan 2025: -0.3
- Feb 2025: -0.3
- Mar 2025: -0.32
- Apr 2025: -0.37
- May 2025: -0.39
- Jun 2025: -0.41
- Jul 2025: -0.44
- Aug 2025: -0.43
- Sep 2025: -0.42
- Oct 2025: -0.43
- Nov 2025: -0.41
- Dec 2025: -0.39
- Jan 2026: -0.4
- Feb 2026: -0.37
- Mar 2026: -0.33
- Apr 2026: -0.33
- May 2026: -0.28
- Jun 2026: -0.23
- Jul 2026: -0.22
- Aug 2026: -0.19
- Sep 2026: -0.16
- Oct 2026: -0.17

Industrial production in August was 12.0% higher than a year earlier, the largest rise in more than four years, and 3.3% higher than in July. Goods exports were 4.9% up, mainly machinery and means of transport. Household consumption rose 2.1%, mostly goods. Investment in tangible fixed assets was 1.8% higher, led by machinery (including defence equipment), computers and buildings.

Prices of existing homes in September were 2.9% higher than a year earlier, against 3.3% in August. Year-on-year price growth has been slowing almost without interruption since November 2024. Prices fell 0.4% compared with August.

Bankruptcies rose 5% in September: 16 more companies, including sole proprietorships, were declared bankrupt than in August, adjusted for the number of court sitting days. Employees and self-employed people worked just over 3.7 billion hours in the third quarter, 0.3% more than in the previous quarter.

## Background

- **Conjunctuurklok**: The Conjunctuurklok (economic barometer clock) is a monthly overview published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) that summarises the current state of the Dutch economy. It is based on survey indicators such as consumer confidence and producer confidence, and it shows where the economy stands in the business cycle. Because it is released every month, it is a common reference point for judging whether the Dutch economy is improving or weakening.

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