EUROPEAN ECONOMY COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS In this number: Supplement Β Capacity utilization in industry Business and consumer and employment expectations survey results No 2 - February 1991 Η 1 : Indicators of output and economic sentiment European Community ΓΗΕ MAIN POINTS IN BRIEF At the beginning of 1991 economic 1985 117 growth in the European Community is showing signs of weakness. It is clear that the opinions of industrialists and consumers on the future situation have been markedly influenced by the tensions in the Gulf region which were growing more acute at the beginning of the year. • Business confidence has deteriorated • further. Manufacturers do not expect industrial output in the Community to increase in the next few months. Companies are more and more pessimistic about order-books. Despite its downward path, capacity utilization in industry is high. Reports on expected capacity constraints have diminished slightly. According to the most recent survey results, consumers in Europe are clearly more pessimistic than manufacturers. The fall in consumer confidence in the Community mainly relates to sentiment concerning the future economic situation. It is to be hoped that this fall in confidence will be at least partly reversed by the changed situation in the Gulf. The rapid settlement of the Gulf crisis could lead to a strong rebound in sentiment.