The final data from the European Commission showed economic confidence in the Eurozone strengthened in July. The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) increased slightly to 111.2 in July from 111.1 in June, while economists forecast a fall to 110.8.

The ESI's July performance resulted from higher confidence in the construction (+1.8, to -1.7 points) and services (+0.8, to 14.1 points) sectors, which was outweighed by mildly weakening levels of retail trade (-0.4, to 4.0 points) and consumer (-0.4, to -1.7 points) confidence. Meanwhile, sentiment in industry remained flat (at 4.5 points).

Amongst the largest euro-area economies, the ESI rose only in Germany (+0.6) and, to a lesser extent, the Netherlands (+0.3), while it fell in Italy (-0.6), France (-0.7) and Spain (-1.0).

The survey also noted that employment plans saw upward revisions in all surveyed business sectors, mostly so in services and retail trade. Similarly, selling price expectations increased throughout all sectors, in particular construction and retail trade, while consumers' price expectations weakened.