Euro-Zone Economic Confidence Tumbles Lower, Heightening Growth Fears

The eurozone September economic confidence indicator fell less than feared - to 87.7 from 88.5 in the previous month. Our median was 87.1. The drop in the overall reading reflects a decline in industrial confidence to -12 from -9 in August. Services confidence dropped to 0 from 1 while consumer confidence was stable at -19. Retail confidence unexpectedly improved but at -8 remains firmly in negative territory and construction sentiment deteriorated further. Data was slightly better than feared, but still confirms an erosion in sentiment across the board, which adds to growth concerns in the eurozone and pressure on the ECB to start considering rate cuts.