How did high inflation in 2023 affect the NBB as a central bank? In what ways is the Bank meeting its corporate social responsibility? You can learn about these issues and much more in the NBB Corporate Report 2023 (the English version will be available from 17 May).

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.