The European Commission published that in January 2013, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) increased by 1.4 points in both the EU and the euro area. For the same month, the Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area remained broadly unchanged at -1.09.

The latest figures published by the European Commission show that in January 2013 the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) increased by 1.4 points in both the EU (to 90.6) and the euro area (to 89.2). In the EU, confidence improved in services, construction, retail trade and among consumers, while deteriorating slightly in industry. In the euro area, confidence picked up in construction, services and among consumers and remained broadly unchanged in industry and retail trade. In October 2012, while the Economic sentiment declined in the euro area, it remained stable in the EU.

Among the seven largest EU Member States, the ESI registered increases in Germany (+2.5), the Netherlands (+1.0), Spain (+0.5) and the UK (+0.5). It remained unchanged in Italy and broadly stable in France (‑0.3), while deteriorating in Poland (-1.3). Confidence in financial services, which is not included in the ESI, increased in both the EU (+1.0) and the euro area (+2.6). The increases were driven mainly by improved assessments of past demand and significantly better demand expectations. Managers' assessment of the past business situation improved in the euro area and deteriorated in the EU.

With regard to the Business Climate Indicator (BCI) in January 2013, for the euro area remained broadly unchanged at -1.09. While their assessment of current order books (overall and export) worsened, industry managers became less pessimistic in their production expectations and assessments of both past production and adequacy of stocks of finished products.