Figures released by Institute of National Accounts (INR) and the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) on Friday show that the Belgian economy grew by 0.3% during the first quarter of 2024. Compared with the end of the first quarter of 2023, Belgium’s GDP had increased by 1.3% by the end of March this year.
The figures released on Friday morning are in line with the NBB’s growth forecasts.
During the first quarter of the year there was a 0.1% growth in manufacturing, while growth in service industries was 0.4%. The construction industry grew by 0.2% during the first three months of the year.
Between 1 January and 31 March the number of people in work in Belgium increased by 0.2% (9,200 jobs). Compared with a year earlier 25,000 more people were employed at the end of March 2024, a rise of 0.5%.