The European Commission (EC) said on Wednesday its flash estimate showed the consumer confidence indicator for the Eurozone decreased by 11.1 points to -22.7 in April from the previous month. Economists had expected the index to worsen to -19.6.

Considering the European Union (EU) as a whole, consumer sentiment dropped by 11.6 points to -22.0.

Given this month's sharp declines, both indicators are well below their long-term averages of -11.1 (Eurozone) and -10.4 (EU), and close to the record lows recorded during the Great Recession in 2009, the report said.