Press releases (70)

On 18 July 2024, the Federal Planning Bureau, the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis (BISA), Statistics Flanders and the Walloon Institute for Evaluation (IWEPS) published their economic outlook for the three regions.

The Study Committee on Public Investment has, for the first time, published an overview of public investment in Belgium. In 2022, public investment amounted to 2.7% of GDP and investment contributions stood at 0.6%. Without any changes in policy, Belgium will likely not meet the 2030 investment target of 4% of GDP set in the 2020 government agreement. Current investment levels are barely sufficient to meet the required minimum for a possible extension of the adjustment period set out in the European budgetary framework. Furthermore, the Committee recommends establishing a mechanism to coordinate public investment across different levels of government and enhancing transparency as well as consolidating information regarding investment plans. 

Economic growth in the euro area was surprisingly high (2.5%) last year and is expected to remain solid (2.2%) in 2018. Against this backdrop, the growth forecasts for the Belgian economy in 2018 have been revised slightly upwards to 1.8%, compared to our September release. This favourable development leads to a rise in employment by 57000 people. This year, inflation is expected to cool down somewhat to 1.7% as a result of both the appreciation of the euro and the significant decrease in electricity prices in Flanders. In accordance with the Act of 21 December 1994, the National Accounts Institute (NAI) has transmitted the figures of the economic budget to the Minister for Economy. These macro-economic forecasts will serve as a basis for the 2018 budget review.