Dutch producer confidence in the economy rose sharply in July, going up from -15.1 to -8,7, national statistics agency CBS said on Thursday.

The new figures show a continual rise since April when the index plunged from 0.2 to an all-time-low of -28.7, the biggest drop recorded in the history of the index, which the CBS began in 1985.

Confidence has improved across all manufacturing sectors, with the wood and construction materials sector now again in positive figures, the CBS said. The clothing industry booked the biggest improvement.

Factory gate prices have also improved, but remain down 5.4% on a year ago.