Consumer confidence in the euro area and the EU deteriorated in February

Analysts surprised by deteriorating consumer confidence in Europe

The European Commission said on Friday that the consumer confidence index had fallen by 0.3 points to minus 8.8 points in February in the 19-nation eurozone. Analysts expected the indicator to improve to minus 8 points from minus 8.5 points in January.

In the 27 Member States of the European Union, the value of the consumer confidence index fell by 0.2 points to minus 10.2 points in February. (MTI)