Consumer confidence in the euro area increased in December, despite the mounting COVID-19 figures and the tightening of measures to contain the virus in many European countries. This is apparent from a preliminary estimate by the European Commission. Probably they got the confidence from the news about the vaccines.
The index used by Brussels to measure confidence rose by 3.7 points to minus 13.9 points. This means that the gauge is still below the long-term average. The index for the European Union as a whole rose by 3.4 points to minus 15.3 points, also below the long-term average.
In November there was a fall in confidence. The commission will present final figures on consumer and business confidence in December in January.