SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN ECONOMIC SENTIMENT IN THE EU.

After a momentary lapse in November 2005, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) in December continued the upward trend that began in the summer of 2005, indicated the European Commission's monthly economic report published on January 5. These findings are based on business and consumer surveys. It recorded a minimal increase of 0.1 point in the EU (0.6 in the euro-zone). But as in previous surveys, the evolution differed greatly in the different sectors: confidence in the services sector and the construction industry weakened, while managers in the industry and the retail sectors and consumers became more confident compared to the previous month.

Differences were also recorded across the member states: in France, Italy...