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Eurozone consumer morale rises
■ Consumer confidence improved slightly across the Eurozone this month, yet remains deep in negative territory. Data published by the European Commission yesterday showed confidence on Europe’s high streets edging up to -25.6 points in October from -25.9 points in September in the 17 countries sharing the euro. In the wider European Union area, however, consumer confidence deteriorated to -24.2 from -24.0. Consumer spending makes up more than half of the Eurozone’s economic output, but households are in no position to help a recovery as the impact of the debt crisis cuts their disposable income. Eurozone GDP fell 0.2 per cent in the second quarter.