The Eurozone Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) fell to 98.3 in February 2026, down from a three-year high of 99.3 in January and below market expectations of 99.8. Sentiment weakened among manufacturers (-7.1 vs -6.8), service providers (5.0 vs 6.8), and construction firms (-2.1 vs -1.3). Consumer confidence (-12.2 vs -12.4) and retailer sentiment (-4.5 vs -5.7) showed modest improvement. Among major economies, the ESI declined in France (-2.8) and Italy (-0.6), while remaining broadly stable in Spain (±0.0), Germany (-0.2), and Netherlands (-0.2). On the pricing front, consumer inflation expectations rose 1.6 points to 25.8, while manufacturers’ selling price expectations increased 1.2 points to 11.5, highlighting ongoing inflationary pressures.
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Eurozone Economic Sentiment Slips in February
The Eurozone Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) fell to 98.3 in February 2026, down from a three-year high of 99.3 in January and below market expectations of 99.8. Sentiment weakened among manufacturers (-7.1 vs -6.8), service providers (5.0 vs 6.8), and construction firms (-2.1 vs -1.3). Consumer confidence (-12.2 vs -12.4) and retailer sentiment (-4.5 vs -5.7) showed modest improvement. Among major economies, the ESI declined in France (-2.8) and Italy (-0.6), while remaining broadly stable in Spain (±0.0), Germany (-0.2), and Netherlands (-0.2). On the pricing front, consumer inflation expectations rose 1.6 points to 25.8, while manufacturers’ selling price expectations increased 1.2 points to 11.5, highlighting ongoing inflationary pressures.