In retail trade, the sentiment index dropped to minus 7.8 points from minus 5.7 points in the euro zone

According to the DG ECFIN (Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs) report, in October the ESI (Economic Sentiment Indicator) economic sentiment index fell to 93.3 points instead of the expected 93.0 points from the previous month’s revised 93.4 points.

The 93.3 points reached in October is the lowest value since the 92.7 points in November 2022 and can be traced back to the sustained inflationary pressure within the bloc, as well as the restrained expectations among business players following the ECB’s monetary tightening.