Business investments up 4.5 percent

Businesses across the Dutch landscape invested 4.3 percent in tangible assets during March 2014 compared to a year earlier. The growth slowed in comparison to the first two months of the year, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).

The growth in investments is expected to continue, the CBS said. Analysis of six economic indicators suggests "conditions for investments improved slightly," which should show overall gains this month.

Machinery and IT purchases made up the bulk of the increase. The CBS described the investment as "substantially more" when compared to March 2013.