Loading page content
Data from FMP. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
BelgiumBelgium Business Confidence fell to -13.2% in August 2026
FMPMonthlyReleased August 2026
Belgium Business Confidence fell to -13.2% in August 2026, down 1.3% from July's -11.9% reading. The reading missed the -10.5% consensus by 2.7%. The print is running well below the 12-month average of -11.03%. The reading is in the 46th percentile of the trailing 24-month range.
Latest Release
-13.2
Actual
-10.5
Consensus
-11.9
Previous
Median Absolute Error
±1.66 percentage points
across last 12 releases
Last Call
Aug 2026
Predicted: -11.35
Actual: -13.2
Error: +1.85
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Co-movement | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | ▲ Direct | +0.51 | INDEX | Moves with | → View |
| USD/JPY | ▼ Inverse | −0.44 | FOREX | Moves against | → View |
| BTC/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.26 | CRYPTO | Moves with | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Business Confidence (Belgium) was reported at -13.2% in August 2026. This missed the market consensus of -10.5% by 2.7%. The reading fell from the previous value of -11.9%. Trailing 12-month context per ETL data through August 2026. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged -11.17%, ranging from -13.7% to -7.9% across 10 releases.
WHY IT MATTERS
The trailing three releases averaged -12.8%, down from the prior three at -12.07%. Volatility over the past year (σ 2.28%) is higher than the prior year (σ 1.82%). In August readings over the past 3 years, Business Confidence has averaged -11.57%.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is positively correlated with S&P 500 (Bullish S&P 500). A secondary relationship exists with USD/JPY, negatively correlated (Bearish USD). Over the last 12 releases, the Sigmacast model's median absolute error is 1.66%.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The next release is scheduled for September 24, 2026.
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update August 2026.
SHARE
Business Confidence - BE
Loading chart data...
About Business Confidence — Belgium
DEFINITION
Business Confidence is a financial indicator that measures the level of optimism or pessimism among business owners and managers about the current and future state of the economy. It is often used as a gauge of overall economic health and can impact investment decisions, hiring practices, and consumer spending. A high level of business confidence indicates a positive outlook and potential for growth, while a low level may signal caution and potential economic downturn. This indicator is closely monitored by economists, policymakers, and investors to assess the overall sentiment and potential direction of the business sector.
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
Sentiment surveys are forward-looking inputs that often lead hard data on output and hiring. Sharp swings can drive cross-asset repricing. The release is more useful as part of a longer-run signal than as a single-print catalyst. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (Aug 2026): actual -13.2 %, consensus -10.5 %. Prior reading (Jul 2026): -11.9 %. Before that (May 2026): -13.3 %.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a similar reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook reinforcing that direction. Both horizons are aligned bearish for this indicator, suggesting a consistent trend signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary tailwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with S&P 500 (Bullish S&P 500, r=0.51) — a useful reference for index-focused traders.
Σ
EXPECTED ZONE
SIGMANOMICS MARKET FORECAST ENGINE
Multi-horizon symbol forecasts, Rolling-Surprise economic predictions, and programmatic API access.
Expected Zones · Trade Bias · Confidence Intervals · API Access · 1,456+ instruments
FOREXCRYPTOSTOCKSCOMMODITIESINDICESAPI
BLSBEAFMPWORLD BANKFRED
1,456+ instruments247 indicators530+ correlationsREST + GQL API
4,151 economic indicators127 countries covered6 data sources
FREDBLSEIAECBBOJFMP
Economic Calendar - BE Events
| Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | BE | Balance of Trade | 6479.3 | 4685.2 | 5980 | 6229.65 | Low |
| Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
| 08:30 | BE | Harmonised Inflation Rate YoY | 4.2 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.18 | Low |
| 09:30 | BE | Harmonised Inflation Rate YoY | 4.2 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.18 | Low |