European Firms Expect Stronger 2027 Sales
Operators across 27 countries should plan for sales gains while budgeting for energy, raw material and labour costs.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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Eurochambres presented its Economic Survey 2027 in Dublin, drawing on views of more than 40,000 entrepreneurs across 27 European countries. Businesses expect higher domestic and export sales in 2027 even as overall business confidence weakens, which matters for firms planning around sales and cost pressures.
Why it matters
Sales expectations have moved into positive territory for the first time in recent editions and exceed their ten-year averages, while employment expectations remain negative for a fourth consecutive year. Energy costs, access to affordable raw materials, labour costs and regulatory compliance costs are weighing on confidence, with the pressure felt most sharply by smaller businesses.
The survey covers more than 40,000 entrepreneurs in 27 European countries. Sales expectations for 2027 sit above their ten-year averages, while investment expectations have improved over the previous two years yet remain below their historical average.
The players
Eurochambres
The association of European Chambers of Commerce, which represents chamber networks across Europe and publishes the annual business expectations survey.
The details
Sales expectations have turned positive, supported by expected stronger domestic demand and improving export sales in 2027. Employment expectations stay negative because labour costs and difficulty finding workers with the right skills continue to press on firms. Energy costs, raw material access, regulatory compliance costs and volatile energy prices feed into the weaker outlook for business confidence.
Timeline
Survey presented in Dublin during the Competitive Enterprise panel at the SME and Clusters Assembly 2026, in the publication week of 3 November 2026.
Business confidence expected to weaken slightly and fall below its ten-year average during 2027.
Market Landscape
The survey's sales expectations exceed their ten-year averages while business confidence falls below its own, a divergence that marks a split between near-term demand optimism and broader sentiment. Energy, raw material and labour cost pressures recur as the drivers across the survey's four-year run of negative employment expectations.
Operators should plan for stronger 2027 sales while budgeting carefully for energy, raw material and labour costs, which the survey identifies as the biggest pressures on business. Smaller firms in particular should stress-test hiring plans, since employment expectations have stayed negative for four years.
The takeaway
The divergence between rising sales expectations and weakening confidence suggests firms are growing more cautious even as demand improves. Track energy and labour cost trends in your own budget against the survey's projections when setting 2027 pricing and staffing plans.
Further reading
For broader context on how these expectations fit into the wider data picture, see Economic Indicators.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cyprus Mail.
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