Belgium registered a surplus of €4.9 billion in international trade in goods, compared with a near-zero balance a year ago. The improvement is most visible in two major categories of traded goods: minerals and chemicals/pharmaceuticals. 

The financial assets of Belgian households grew by €70.6 billion in 2023 and totalled €1 540.1 billion at year’s end. A notable trend in 2023 was the shift towards term accounts and debt securities due to the low interest rates offered on savings and sight deposits. 

The Governing Council today decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged. Inflation has continued to fall, led by lower food and goods price inflation.

On 27 March, the National Bank of Belgium published its second annual report on climate-related financial disclosures for its non-monetary policy portfolios, reiterating its commitment to sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) and the transition to a net-zero economy. 

This year, the euro is celebrating its 25th anniversary! To mark the occasion, we are looking back on the introduction of the single currency and the changes it brought about in the conduct of monetary policy and payment and securities settlement systems. To find out more, check out the latest article on our blog.

This buffer serves as a temporary additional capital reserve, providing banks with the necessary leeway to absorb credit losses in the event of a sharp increase in loan defaults.