Eurozone economic confidence hits highest level since 2000

Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-09 01:30:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan
Video PlayerClose

BRUSSELS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Eurozone economic confidence continued rise to its highest level since October 2000 in December.

Figures from the European Commission showed the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI), which mirrors the economic confidence, increased strongly by 1.4 points in the eurozone to 116.0, and by 1.6 points in the EU to 115.9 in December from the previous month, reaching the highest levels since October (euro area) and August 2000 (EU), while continuing the upward trend observable since autumn 2016.

The more optimistic eurozone sentiment was primarily boosted by marked increases in confidence in the services, retail trade and construction sectors. Confidence rose further in industry and among consumers as well.

Amongst the largest euro-area economies, the ESI rose strongly in France by 2.3 points and Germany by 1.6 points and, to a lesser extent, in the Netherlands by 0.7 percent. It remained unchanged in Italy while decreased slightly in Spain by 0.8 points.

Capital Economics' European economist Stephen Brown said the data pointed to quarterly GDP growth of around 0.8 percent, roughly consistent with annual growth of 3.2 percent.

However, he said despite signs of strong growth in the eurozone, consumers' 12-month inflation expectations fell to a four-month low in December.

"So there might be upside risks to the already above-consensus forecast for euro-zone GDP growth of 2.3 percent in 2018; we doubted that this will prompt the European Central Bank to alter its dovish stance," he said.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105091368807361
国产无码在线观看免费在线,37pao国产成视频,日韩一区二区视频在线,国产国产人免费人成免费视频麻豆
亚洲国产精品激情在线观看 | 伊人久久大香线蕉影院95 | 亚洲国产午夜福利在线播放 | 中文手机字幕大香视频蕉 | 在线看片免费人成视频久试看 | 中文字幕日韩在线观看 |