Dutch economy is growing again – Parool.nl

Dutch economy is growing again – Parool.nl

13-02-15 9:23 pm – Source: Reuters

© Reuters

The Dutch economy last year for the first time since 2011 grown again. Employment has also increased, but the group with long-term unemployed is also growing.

That made CBS announced today. The economy last year was 0.8 percent. After two consecutive years of contraction did progress thus expectations. The Central Planning Bureau (CPB) was counting on an increase of 0.75 percent. In the final months of the year, growth accelerated considerably. The economy in the fourth quarter increased 0.5 percent compared to the previous quarter. In the third quarter, according to a new estimate that growth still stabbing at 0.2 percent.

After a contraction in the first three months of the year the economy since the spring is rising. The growth last quarter was broad, because the consumption, investment and exports all contributed positively. The expenditures of the government took it slightly.

The recovery in the labor market and rising sales of houses of consumer spending helped the last few months ahead. Last quarter gave them especially more on furniture and electrical appliances while further bicycle sales was in the elevator. In the catering industry was spent more money than a year ago.

Employment and unemployment
Even with employment in the Netherlands goes in the right direction. There were compared to the previous quarter to 42,000 jobs. That is the largest increase in three and a half years. There were mostly more jobs for temporary workers and self-employed.

The unemployment rate remained virtually unchanged this quarter compared to the previous period, at 633,000 people. Compared with a year earlier, the number of unemployed fell by 30,000.

However, the number of long-term unemployed is still increasing, especially in people over 45, the unemployment rate is often lengthy. Of this group had in the past quarter, more than 60 percent for at least one year of work.