EUROPEAN BUSINESS AND consumer confidence fell in October, although among the biggest states, the picture was mixed, the European Union has said today.

The Economic Sentiment Indicator produced by the European Commission fell to 84.5 points across the 17-state eurozone, down 0.7 points from September for an eighth consecutive monthly slide.

However across the 27-state European Union it was unchanged remaining at 86.2 points.

Well below the long-term average of 100 points, Germany, France and Poland each saw further substantial drops, of 1.4, 1.8 and 2.8 points respectively.

Britain, Spain and Italy, meanwhile, saw rises of 5.2, 1.8 and 0.5 points.

Confidence in industry continued the downward trend reported since March while confidence in retail trade picked up in both the EU and the euro area.

In the construction sector confidence in both areas decreased, down 2.6 in the EU and 1.2 in the euro area.

Consumer confidence remained broadly stable and customers in both areas viewed the future general economic situation less pessimistically. However customers’ unemployment expectations in both the EU and euro area worsened.

- Additional reporting by AFP.

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