Vertrouwen in economie stijgt in EU, Nederland negatieve uitzondering (en)

In November the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) increased by 2.0 points in the EU, to 88.1, and by 1.4 points in the euro area, to 85.7. The upswing follows a deceleration in the ESI's downturn since September. The industrial investment survey, however, hints at stagnating real investment in 2013, casting some doubts on these first signals of a recovery. While EU sentiment improved across all sectors, except for construction, where it remained unchanged, the euro area registered increases in industry and retail trade, which were partly offset by decreases among consumers, in construction, and a virtually unchanged level in services.

Six of the seven largest Member States reported improved sentiment, notably the UK (+3.1), Germany (+2.3), Poland (+2.1), France (+1.6), Spain (+0.5) and Italy (+0.4). The Netherlands saw sentiment declining (-3.2).

Economic sentiment indicator (s.a.)

November EU: 88.1 - Euro Area: 85.7

Industry confidence increased significantly for the first time since February (+1.6 in the EU and +3.2 in the euro area), fuelled by a much more positive assessment of the current level of overall order books, production expectations and the stocks of finished products. Also companies' past production and current level of export order books, which are not included in the confidence indicator, were assessed more favourably. In services, confidence continued last month's recovery in the EU (+2.9), while remaining broadly unchanged in the euro area (+0.2). Managers' assessment of the past business situation and views on past demand improved, while demand expectations brightened only in the EU but deteriorated in the euro area. Confidence in retail trade picked up in both the EU (+3.6) and the euro area (+2.5), due to better assessments of the present and expected business situation. The assessment of the current volume of stocks improved in the euro area, but worsened in the EU. Confidence in construction remained broadly unchanged in the EU (-0.1), but fell in the euro area (-2.5). The EU witnessed a slight improvement in the assessment of order books, counterbalanced by a mild deterioration in employment expectations, while the euro area registered losses in both components.

Contrary to managers in construction, industry and services managers revised employment plans upwards. In retail trade, EU managers revised their plans upwards, while euro area managers envisaged less employment. Selling price expectations decreased in all sectors, except for construction.

Consumer confidence improved in the EU (+0.5), but dropped in the euro area (-1.2). Consumers' assessment of the future general economic situation was less pessimistic (EU) or unchanged (euro area). Consumers in the EU were also more positive about their households' financial situation and their savings over the next 12 months, contrary to those in the euro area. Finally, unemployment expectations worsened in both areas.

Financial services confidence, which is not included in the ESI, dropped in the EU (-4.2) and the euro area (-6.0) as a result of worsening assessments of the past business situation, past demand and demand expectations.

According to the industrial investment survey of October/November 2012, euro-area managers plan to decrease real investment by 1% in 2013 compared with 2012. In the EU, no change in real investment is expected.

Industrial confidence indicator (s.a.)

November EU: -14.2- Euro Area: -15.1

Service confidence indicator (s.a.)

November EU: -8.9 - Euro Area: -11.9

Consumer confidence indicator (s.a.)

November EU: -23.8 - Euro Area: -26.9

Service confidence indicator (s.a.)

November EU: -8.9 - Euro Area: -11.9

Consumer confidence indicator (s.a.)

November EU: -23.8 - Euro Area: -26.9

Construction confidence indicator (s.a.)

November EU: -35.6 - Euro Area: -35.5

Financial services confidence indicator (n.s.a.)

November EU: -2.9 - Euro Area: -9.7

The next Business and Consumer Survey is due to be published on 8 January 2013.

Full tables are available on:

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/db_indicators/surveys/index_en.htm