Eurozone consumer morale dips more than forecast in September

• The previous month's reading stood at -15.5.

• Euro area flash consumer confidence registered -16.5, missing the -16.0 consensus. The prior figure was -15.5.
• For the EU as a whole, flash consumer confidence came in at -15.8, a decrease of 0.8 points from August.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) reported that consumer sentiment in the euro area dropped by 1.0 point in September. The decline, which was a bit larger than anticipated, ended a four-month stretch of improvement. Sentiment in the broader EU also deteriorated.

Quick analysis: The gradual improvement consumers had been experiencing appears to have come to a halt with September's reading. The weaker sentiment could weigh on household spending, a factor the European Central Bank will need to consider for growth. The softer data may put some downward pressure on the euro, though inflation and other economic indicators will also influence the bank's policy choices.

What this report measures: DG ECFIN's monthly flash indicator provides an early gauge of consumer confidence across the euro area and the wider EU. Market participants monitor it for signals on future household spending and economic expansion. The flash figures are subject to revision.