Economics
Euro-Area Economic Confidence Rises, But Job Worries Remain
- Confidence gauge rose to 87.7 in August, exceeding estimate
- Separate French, Spanish data show weak consumer demand
Cafes and retail stores on the Rue Montorgueil in Paris, France, on Aug. 26.
Photographer: Nathan Laine/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Economic confidence in the euro area continued to improve in August, with companies from manufacturing to services benefiting from higher demand following the end of pandemic lockdowns.
A European Commission sentiment index rose for a fourth month, exceeding all but three estimates in a Bloomberg survey, and registered sustained gains in industry, retail trade and particularly services. Companies’ employment expectations rose, but job cuts in recent months across the continent meant consumers remain worried about the labor market.