The Euro Area industrial confidence indicator rose to -5.3 in August 2026 from -6.1 in July, reaching its highest level since April 2023 and slightly outperforming market expectations of -5.2. Managers reported stronger production expectations and lower stocks of finished products, though this improvement was partially offset by a more negative assessment of current order books. Outside the components of the confidence indicator, managers’ evaluation of past production partially retreated after July’s sharp increase, and their views on export order books worsened somewhat.