Business sentiment in Poland improved in March 2026 across most major sectors of the economy, according to the latest voivodship report published by Statistics Poland. The regional business climate indicator (R-BCI) rose in at least half of the voivodships in most analysed areas compared with both March 2025 and, in many cases, February 2026. The strongest positive shifts were visible in manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and storage, as well as information and communication.
The overall picture was therefore more positive than a year earlier. Entrepreneurs in most voivodships expressed optimistic views on current business conditions, especially in accommodation and catering, information and communication, and wholesale trade. These sectors were dominated by positive R-BCI readings, which means that favourable assessments outnumbered negative ones. At the same time, pessimistic views still prevailed in retail trade and in transportation and storage, making them the weakest parts of the business landscape in March.
Manufacturing showed a clear improvement in sentiment. Compared with March 2025, the business climate improved in 9 voivodships, with the largest increases recorded in Pomorskie, Świętokrzyskie and Podlaskie. In 8 voivodships, the indicator stood above the neutral level of zero, signalling a predominance of positive sentiment. The most optimistic assessments came from Mazowieckie, Małopolskie and Podkarpackie. The report also noted that expectations for the next three months were generally positive, with firms anticipating higher orders and higher output.
Construction presented a more mixed but still improving picture. Year on year, sentiment improved in 7 voivodships, while month on month the R-BCI increased in 10 voivodships. Positive assessments were seen in half of the regions, with the strongest readings in Opolskie, Pomorskie and Podlaskie. Even so, the sector continued to struggle with weak order books and lower construction and assembly output in many areas. Businesses also frequently stressed that the near-term economic outlook remained difficult to predict.
Wholesale trade was one of the sectors where optimism strengthened more visibly. Compared with March 2025, business sentiment improved in most voivodships, and compared with February 2026 it improved in 12 voivodships. In March, positive R-BCI values were recorded in the majority of regions, with the highest readings in Podkarpackie, Wielkopolskie and Dolnośląskie. This reflected both better assessments of current conditions and more optimistic expectations for sales and supplier orders over the next three months.
Retail trade improved in some regions, but it remained one of the weakest areas overall. Year on year, sentiment improved in 8 voivodships, and month on month in 12 voivodships. However, negative assessments still dominated in the vast majority of the country. The most pessimistic reading was recorded in Opolskie, while the only clearly positive results were observed in Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Wielkopolskie. Retailers across all voivodships also reported worsening financial conditions, excess inventories in most regions and weaker sales.
Transportation and storage also remained under pressure despite some improvement. Compared with March 2025, the business climate improved in 10 voivodships, but in March 2026 the R-BCI was still negative in most of them. The lowest readings were recorded in Opolskie, Łódzkie and Śląskie, while the strongest positive values appeared in Pomorskie, Wielkopolskie and Dolnośląskie. This weakness was mainly linked to poor assessments of current demand, sales of services and financial conditions, as well as pessimistic expectations for the coming three months.
The most optimistic sector in March was accommodation and catering. Positive R-BCI values were recorded there in 12 voivodships, more than in any other analysed area. The highest readings were reported in Podlaskie, Mazowieckie and Podkarpackie. Businesses in this sector were also among the most hopeful about the near future, expecting better overall and financial conditions as well as stronger demand for their services.
Information and communication was another strong performer. The indicator increased year on year in 9 voivodships, and positive sentiment dominated in 11 of them. The most optimistic assessments came from Świętokrzyskie, Podlaskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie. In this sector, positive views on both current conditions and the short-term outlook played a major role in lifting sentiment.
Despite the broader improvement in sentiment, companies still pointed to serious operating barriers. Across most sectors and voivodships, high labour costs remained the most frequently cited obstacle, particularly in accommodation and catering and in construction. Uncertainty about the general economic situation was another important barrier, especially in transportation and storage and in wholesale trade. High payments to the state budget were also often mentioned, especially by firms in construction and accommodation and catering. At the same time, some companies declared that they faced no major barriers at all, which suggests that conditions remain uneven across regions and sectors.
Own elaboration based on Statistics Poland (GUS) data.
