Economic sentiment rises slightly in August
Sentiment in the Eurozone edged up in August, contrasting the previous two months of decline. Economic sentiment rose 0.4 points from July’s over three-year low of 102.7 to 103.1 points. Sentiment in the Eurozone is above its long-run average of 100 points.
Improved sentiment in the industrial and retail trade sectors drove August’s uptick. In contrast, confidence fell in the services and construction sectors and among consumers. Employment plans were mixed across industries, improving notably in the industrial sector but deteriorating in the rest.