By Paul Hannon
Eurozone businesses were untroubled by the threat of a Greek
departure from the eurozone in July, becoming more upbeat about
their prospects even as consumers grew more wary.
A European Commission survey released Thursday recorded a
surprising strengthening of confidence across a range of businesses
and in most of the major eurozone economies.
The survey was carried out as Greece edged as close to departure
from the currency area as any member has ever reached, before an
agreement was secured on July 13 that could pave the way for fresh
loans from the rest of the eurozone to the country over a
three-year period.
The pickup in business confidence suggests that a recent rise in
investment spending and employment is likely to continue,
supporting the currency area's modest economic recovery.
The commission's headline Economic Sentiment Indicator--which
aggregates the business and consumer measures--rose to 104.0 from
103.5, reaching its highest level since July 2011 and remaining
well above the average of 100.0 going back to the start of the
series in 1990. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal last
week had expected a modest decline to 103.3.
The Commission confirmed that consumer confidence weakened
during the month, but manufacturers, service providers and
retailers became more upbeat. Construction companies and banks were
slightly more downbeat.
With its future as member of the currency area in doubt and its
banks closed, Greek confidence evaporated, with the ESI for the
country falling to 81.3 from 90.7. But it was a very different
story elsewhere in the eurozone, as sentiment strengthened in
Germany, France and Spain.
The wider eurozone economy has been little affected by the
deterioration in Greece's relationship with fellow eurozone members
since the start of the year. The economy grew at the same modest
pace in the first quarter as in the final three months of 2014, and
most indications point to a continuation of that performance in the
second quarter. Figures released earlier Thursday showed Spain's
economy continued to gain momentum in the three months to June,
growing by 1% from the previous quarter, its most rapid expansion
in seven years.
Contagion from Greece's financial difficulties have proved much
weaker than in previous periods of heightened concern about the
durability of the eurozone, as yields on bonds issued by other
eurozone governments remained relatively unchanged even as those of
Greece soared.
However, a final deal between the Greek government and its
creditors faces an array of challenges, including growing
skepticism over whether the bailout plan can return Greece's
ravaged economy to health.
