According to the report from Statistics Portugal, сonsumer Confidence in Portugal decreased to -8.30 Index Points in February from -7.20 Index Points in January of 2019. Business Confidence in Portugal increased to 2.20 Index Points in February from 2.10 Index Points in January of 2019.

The decrease of the Consumer confidence indicator in January and February reflected the negative contributions of the expectations on the evolution of the country’s economic situation, on the household’s financial situation and on spending money on major purchases.

In Manufacturing Industry, the confidence indicator decreased in January and February, resuming the descendent movement started at the beginning of 2018. The evolution of the indicator reflected the negative contribution of the production perspectives and the opinions on global demand, while the opinions on the evolution of stocks of finished products contributed positively.

The confidence indicator for Construction and Public Works increased in February  attaining the maximum since March 2002. This evolution was due to the positive contribution of both components, opinions on the order books and employment perspectives, more significant in the former case.

The confidence indicator for Trade increased in February, interrupting the downward movement observed in the two previous months and reflecting the positive contribution of all components, opinions on sales evolution, perspectives on the business activity and opinions on the volume of stocks, more significant in the first case.

The Services’ confidence indicator increased in January and February, suspending the downward movement observed between September and December. In the last month, there was a positive evolution of the opinions on the evolution of demand, while the perspectives on the evolution of demand stabilized and the balance of the opinions on the business situation decreased.