Vertrouwen in Europese economie groeit gestaag (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Europese Commissie (EC), gepubliceerd op donderdag 28 mei 2009.

IP/0 9/843

Brussels, 28 May 2009

May 2009: Economic sentiment continues in May to recover from historical lows

In May, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) for the EU and the euro area picked up for the second month in a row, albeit from a very low level and at a slower pace than in April, when a clear rebound was observed. The ESI increased by 2.8 points in the EU, and by 2.1 points in the euro area, to 66.7 and 69.3 respectively.

Economic sentiment indicator (s.a.)

EU : May 66.7

Euro area : May 69.3

This further increase in the ESI resulted from a clear improvement in sentiment in the retail sector which rose markedly in both regions (by 4 points in the EU and by 5 points in the euro area), followed by services (up 4 points in the EU and 1 point in the euro area). Industry registered a smaller increase (+2 and +1, respectively). Sentiment in both construction and among consumers, in contrast, declined in the EU (by 1 and 2 points respectively) and remained stable in the euro area.

The majority of Member States registered an improvement. Among the largest Member States, Italy (+5.3 points), the UK (+4.8), and the Netherlands (+3.1) witnessed significant increases in sentiment, while the rise was less marked in France (+1.5), Poland (+1.2) and Germany (+0.9). Spain, on the other hand, registered a slight decrease (-0.9), resulting from a deterioration of sentiment in services.

The financial services confidence indicator – not included in the ESI – improved by 3 points in the EU and remained stable in the euro area. The positive development in the EU reflects a rise in managers' assessment of the business situation, demand for their services, and expectations of demand, whereas the underlying components in the euro area show a rather mixed picture.

Industrial confidence indicator (s.a.)

EU: May -34

Euro area: May -34

Service confidence indicator (s.a.)

EU : May -26

Euro area: May -23

Consumer confidence indicator (s.a.)

EU: May -31

Euro area: May -31

Retail trade confidence indicator (s.a.)

EU : May -17

Euro area: May -15