Economic sentiment in EU slips in March

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA

The economic sentiment indicator in the eurozone and the EU decreased in March -- third consecutive drop -- said the European Commission on Tuesday.

The economic sentiment indicator slipped 1.6 point to 112.6 in the eurozone and 1.9 point to 112.5 in the EU but remains at elevated levels, business and consumer survey results by the European Commission showed.

The decrease in the headline indicator stemmed from a decline in industry, services and retail trade, according to the survey.

"Confidence among consumers remained unchanged, while it increased among construction managers," it said.

It added that the index slipped significantly -- by 2.4 points -- in Germany, the biggest economy of the eurozone, with 2.4 points.