The dip in sentiment was driven primarily by weakening industry confidence, with modest declines in retail trade and consumer expectations, the Commission found in the latest Business and Consumer Survey.
Among major EU economies, France recorded the sharpest decline of 3.4 points, followed by Spain with 1.4 and Germany down by 0.8, while Poland saw an increase of 1 point.
Industry confidence fell 1.1 points due to deteriorating assessments of order books, production expectations, and stock levels. Retail confidence slipped slightly, with lower business expectations outweighing a modest improvement in past business assessments. Consumer confidence remained broadly stable, though spending intentions weakened.
Selling price expectations continued to fall in industry, services, and construction, though they rose in retail. The Economic Uncertainty Indicator (EUI) dropped by 2 points to 16.4, indicating easing concerns across most sectors, especially in services, construction, and industry. Consumers also reported lower financial uncertainty.
ALCHEMPro News Desk (SG)
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