30.03.202609:14:36UTC+00Eurozone Consumer Confidence Deteriorates Sharply in March

Euro area consumer confidence was confirmed at -16.3 in March 2026, its lowest level since October 2023 and down from -12.3 in February. Sentiment across the broader European Union moved in the same direction, falling to -15.2—close to a 2½-year low—from -11.8 the previous month, in line with earlier flash estimates. The decline was driven in part by higher inflation expectations linked to the Middle East conflict, which prompted consumers to downgrade their outlook for the overall economic situation in their countries. Households also became more pessimistic about their future financial situation and less inclined to make major purchases over the coming 12 months, while their assessment of their past financial situation remained broadly unchanged.