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
Construction confidence indicator (s.a.)
EU : May -39
Euro area: May -34
Financial services confidence indicator (n.s.a.)
EU : May -5
Euro area: May -6
