The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) picked up in February in both the EU (+1.9 points to 93.1) and the euro area (+1.9 points to 93.4) compared to January.

Both In the EU and Euro Area, the ESI’s increase in February was driven by improving confidence in the industry, services, and among consumers, while confidence declined slightly in retail trade and remained broadly unchanged in construction. Amongst the largest EU economies, the ESI rose markedly in Poland (+4.7), Italy (+4.4), Germany (+3.0), and, to a lesser extent, in France (+0.9). By contrast, sentiment worsened strongly in Spain (-3.2).

INDUSTRIAL CONFIDENCE INDICATOR(40%)

Industry confidence improved for the third month in a row (+2.4)in the EU and (+2.8) in the euro area, thanks to positive developments in all its three components.

SERVICES CONFIDENCE INDICATOR (30 %)

Services confidence picked up (+1.1), driven by managers’ more positive assessment of the past business situation and improved demand expectations, while their assessment of past demand remained virtually unchanged compared to January.

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDICATOR (20%)

The small rebound in consumer confidence (+0.8) reflected an improvement in households’ assessments of their future financial conditions, their intentions to make major purchases, and, especially, their expectations about the general economic situation.

RETAIL TRADE CONFIDENCE INDICATOR (5%)

Retail trade confidence declined both in the EU (-0.5) and euro area (-0.6)  Construction confidence remained broadly unchanged (+0.3).

Bellow, you find a summary of major changes in the ECONOMIC SENTIMENT INDICATOR and components