After having remained virtually stable in the previous month, the National Bank of Belgium's business barometer rose in May. Business confidence improved in the manufacturing industry and, even more markedly, in business-related services and in the building industry. The second improvement in a row in the manufacturing industry stems from a more favourable assessment of stock levels and a brighter outlook for employment. In the business-related services sector, not only was the recent level of activity more positively estimated but expectations about business activity and general market demand are on an upward trend ... (full story)