The General Directorate for economy of the European Commission has published the results of a survey on the “economic sentiment” of businesses and citizens. The economic sentiment indicator (Esi) reflects the Eu’s general economic activity, and combines evaluations and prospects resulting from surveys conducted on samples of businesses and citizens. ESI also reports the indicators relating to industrial confidence, confidence in services, general consumer confidence, confidence in the retailing trade and confidence in the building industry. According to the document which can be consulted on the website http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/indicators/businessandconsumersurveys_en.htm – economic sentiment is slightly reviving in the Euro area, after a sharp fall in 2004. In particular, businesses and citizens declare themselves more confident about the single currency and services, while industry does not arouse the same confidence. Poland and Sweden are the countries in which the growth of confidence in the economy is most marked. The UK and France, by contrast, are the most pessimistic.
