The indicators of so-called “economic sentiment” (ESI) are sharply and continuously declining in the European Union. ESI which reflects the general economic activity of the EU and combines evaluations and expectations registered on the basis of surveys conducted on business and consumer samples in all member states indicates a situation of general lack of confidence in the European economy, with the exception of most of the countries of enlargement and the United Kingdom: the economic sentiment registers in fact a larger drop of confidence within the Eurozone than in the 25-member EU. Apart from the drop in ESI, the figures published by the Commission also show a negative trend as regards the indicators of industrial confidence, business climate, confidence in the services sector, general consumer confidence, confidence in the retailing trade, and in the European building industry. See further http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/indicators/businessandconsumersurveys_en.htm
