The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for the Euro Area fell sharply by 47.9 points from the previous month to -8.5 in March 2026, the lowest in 11 months and significantly below market expectations of 24. Sentiment was heavily weighed down by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which continues to threaten prices and supply chains across Europe. In March, 44.1% of surveyed analysts expected no change in economic activity, while 32.2% anticipated a deterioration and 23.7% foresaw an improvement. Meanwhile, the indicator of the current economic situation declined by 16.3 points to -29.9, and inflation expectations surged by 78.9 points to 79. source: Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW)

ZEW Economic Sentiment Index In the Euro Area decreased to -8.50 points in March from 39.40 points in February of 2026. ZEW Economic Sentiment Index in Euro Area averaged 21.74 points from 1999 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 89.90 points in January of 2000 and a record low of -63.70 points in July of 2008. This page provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Zew Economic Sentiment Index - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Euro Area ZEW Economic Sentiment Index - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

ZEW Economic Sentiment Index In the Euro Area decreased to -8.50 points in March from 39.40 points in February of 2026. ZEW Economic Sentiment Index in Euro Area is expected to be 22.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Euro Area ZEW Economic Sentiment Index is projected to trend around 9.00 points in 2027 and 10.00 points in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-17 10:00 AM
ZEW Economic Sentiment Index
Feb 39.4 40.8 45.2 44
2026-03-17 10:00 AM
ZEW Economic Sentiment Index
Mar -8.5 39.4 24 22
2026-04-21 09:00 AM
ZEW Economic Sentiment Index
Apr -8.5


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bankruptcies QoQ 3.40 4.30 percent Dec 2025
Business Confidence -0.36 -0.38 points Feb 2026
Capacity Utilization 77.60 78.00 percent Mar 2026
Car Registrations 764651.00 757035.00 Units Feb 2026
Changes in Inventories 27.81 36.61 EUR Billion Dec 2025
Industrial Production YoY -1.20 2.20 percent Jan 2026
Industrial Production MoM -1.50 -0.60 percent Jan 2026
Industrial Sentiment -7.10 -6.80 points Feb 2026
Manufacturing Production -2.20 2.60 percent Jan 2026
Mining Production 0.80 1.80 percent Jan 2026
Services Sentiment 5.00 6.80 points Feb 2026
ZEW Economic Sentiment Index -8.50 39.40 points Mar 2026


Euro Area ZEW Economic Sentiment Index
In the Euro Area, the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index measures the level of optimism that analysts have about the expected economic developments over the next 6 months. The survey covers up to 350 financial and economic analysts. The index is constructed as the difference between the percentage share of analysts that are optimistic and the percentage of analysts that are pessimistic about the development of the economy. Therefore, the ZEW indicator measures the confidence on a scale of -100 (all analysts expect the economy to deteriorate) up to 100 (all analysts expect it to improve). A 0 value indicates neutrality.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-8.50 39.40 89.90 -63.70 1999 - 2026 points Monthly

News Stream
Eurozone Investor Morale Drops to 11-Month Low
The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for the Euro Area fell sharply by 47.9 points from the previous month to -8.5 in March 2026, the lowest in 11 months and significantly below market expectations of 24. Sentiment was heavily weighed down by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which continues to threaten prices and supply chains across Europe. In March, 44.1% of surveyed analysts expected no change in economic activity, while 32.2% anticipated a deterioration and 23.7% foresaw an improvement. Meanwhile, the indicator of the current economic situation declined by 16.3 points to -29.9, and inflation expectations surged by 78.9 points to 79.
2026-03-17
Eurozone Investor Morale Unexpectedly Eases
The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for the Euro Area fell by 1.4 points from the prior month to 39.4 in February 2026, below market expectations of 45.2. In February, about 52.6% of the surveyed analysts expected no changes in economic activity, 43.4% predicted improvement and 4% anticipated a deterioration. In the meantime, the indicator of the current economic situation increased by 4.5 points to -13.6 and inflation expectations rose by 7.7 points to 0.1.
2026-02-17
Eurozone Investor Morale Improves to 18-Month High
The ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment for the Euro Area rose by 7.1 points from the prior month to 40.8 in January 2026, the highest since July 2024 and above market expectations of 35.2. In January, about 55.8% of the surveyed analysts expected no changes in economic activity, 42.5% predicted improvement and 1.7% anticipated a deterioration. In the meantime, the indicator of the current economic situation increased by 10.4 points to -18.1 and inflation expectations went down by 3 points to -7.6.
2026-01-20