EU Economies See Glimmer of Hope

The European Commission said business and consumer confidence in Europe climbed for the third month in a row in June, but still languished near its lowest point in two decades, Manufacturing.net reports. The EU’s three largest economies, Germany, Britain and France, recorded significant increases in consumer sentiment, the EU said, with smaller hikes in Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy.

EU officials issued caution, saying the pickup in sentiment doesn’t go beyond expectations and companies have not yet reported an increase in output.