EU-19: economic sentiment improved, highest level since 2000
Greater confidence in commerce, manufacturing, construction
30 October, 18:49
(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, OCT. 30 - The economic sentiment index, which has been getting better since autumn, continues to improve. The ESI indicator has risen by 0.9 points in the eurozone and by 1.1 points in the EU-28, reaching the highest level since October 2000 in the eurozone, and in the EU since 2007. In the eurozone, the result is due to a sharp increase in confidence in these sectors: manufacturing industry, retail sales, construction and, to a lesser extent, in services.
Instead, consumers' confidence remained stable. According to the European Commission, ESI rose ''strongly'' in Germany (up 2.1) and less in Italy (up 1), while it remained unchanged in Spain (up 0.3), the Netherlands (up 0.1) and fell in France (down 1.6). The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) also rose by 0.10 points in October.(ANSA).
