Press Release: October 2011: Economic sentiment remains broadly unchanged in both the EU and the euro area

In October, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) remained broadly unchanged in both the EU (-0.1 points) and the euro area (-0.2), at a level of 93.8 and 94.8, respectively. Underlying this overall unchanged picture are a number of mixed signals across sectors. Further declines in sentiment in industry and among consumers were offset by increases in services, retail trade and construction in the EU, as well as by an increase in construction and a very minor improvement in services in the euro area.