The turnover of enterprises in Belgium, excluding agricultural and financial sectors, amounted to 402.9 billion euros in the first quarter 2022, i.e. a 24.4% increase compared to the same period the year before.
In the first quarter of 2022, we see the largest increases in turnover compared to the same period of 2021 in the ‘horeca’ sector (+129%) and in the sector ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’ (+73%). These increases are, of course, due to the fact that companies in these sectors were closed in the first quarter of 2021 (the ‘horeca’ sector could only offer takeaway and events were prohibited), while companies in these sectors were active again in the first quarter of 2022.
Large increases in turnover in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021 are also recorded in the ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ sector (+45%) and in ‘Other service activities’ (+35%). The latter includes the contact professions, which were still partially closed in the first quarter of 2021, which was not the case in the first quarter of 2022. In the industry and in the ‘Transportation and storage’ sector, the turnover in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021 increased by 27%. Significant increases in turnover are also recorded in all other economic sectors, ranging between 11% and 23% for the most important ones.
The results for the first quarter 2022 are provisional. These results can be revised when additional data becomes available.