EU: Flash Consumer Confidence Index comes in at -7.9 in January vs -6.5 expected

"In January 2019, the DG ECFIN flash estimate of the consumer confidence indicator picked up slightly in the euro area (0.4 points up) and remained broadly stable in the EU (-0.2 points down)," the European Commission reported on Wednesday.

Key quotes

"At −7.9 points (euro area) and −7.8 points (EU), both indicators remain well above their respective long-term averages of −11.3 (euro area) and −10.5 (EU)."

"In December 2018, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased markedly in both the euro area (by 2.2 points to 107.3) and the EU (by 2.0 points to 107.6)."