BRUSSELS (AFX) - The euro zone's economic sentiment indicator fell for the fifth consecutive month 0.4 points to 101.7 in May from 102.1 in April, according to the European Commission's business and consumer survey.
In the EU, the economic sentiment indicator fell to 0.4 points to 101.6 from 102.0, the commission said.
In the euro zone, industrial confidence fell to minus 5 from minus 4, construction confidence dropped to minus 3 from minus 2, and consumer confidence slipped to minus 4 from minus 2, it said. The EU's industrial confidence fell to minus 7 from minus 5, construction dropped to minus 4 from minus 2, and consumer confidence fell to minus 3 from minus 2, it said.
The most important decreases in the economic sentiment indicator were seen in Belgium and Germany, both down 0.7 points, followed by France which fell 0.6 points.
Ireland, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands showed increases, it said.
The fall in the industrial confidence indicator was because of a worse than average evolution in Denmark, down 0.3 points, the UK, down 0.4, and Sweden, down 0.5, it said.
Although the construction confidence indicator fell, Spain and Ireland saw significant increases in May, although Ireland had seen unusually low data in April, it said.
After holding steady for the previous three months, the consumer confidence indicator fell after consumers were less optimistic about their households and the general economic situation than in April. There were significant increases in perception of the costs of living over the last 12 months and the price trends for the coming year, it said.
Confidence in the retail trade and service sector in May was lower than in April according to the indicators, it said.