ZAGREB, March 27, 2018 – A marked decrease in industry confidence in March 2018 has affected economic sentiment in Croatia, and optimism has weakened at European Union level too, according to a European Commission report released on Tuesday.
In March 2018, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) in Croatia decreased by four points to 114.8 from February, when it recorded the highest level since the country joined the EU in 2013.
Industry confidence decreased the most, by 6.3 points from a record high in February, to 11.4. Retail trade confidence decreased by four points to 11.4, consumer confidence decreased by 3.6 points to -12.3, construction confidence decreased by 0.7 points to 6.9, while services confidence decreased by 0.1 points to 19.2.
In the EU, the ESI decreased by 1.9 points to 112.5. Services confidence decreased by 2.2 points, retail and industry confidence both decreased by 1.8 points, while construction confidence increased by 0.5 points and consumer confidence stayed the same as in February.
