In September, the consumer confidence indicator decreased in the Euro Area, while the economic sentiment indicator increased. In the same month, the raw materials and oil prices presented monthly change rates of -3.2% and 1.6%, respectively (-5.6% and -18.8% in August).
In Portugal, the economic activity indicator, available for August, and the economic climate indicator, already available for September, stabilized. In August, the Short-Term Statistics revealed an activity increase in industry and in some sectors of services and a decrease in construction and public works. The private consumption indicator presented a less intense year-on-year growth rate in August, reflecting the behaviour of the durable consumption component. The Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) indicator increased, due to the positive contribution of all components, mainly the construction and transport material components. Concerning the international trade of goods, exports and imports recorded year-on-year nominal change rates of 5.8% and 2.4% in August, respectively (5.8% and 4.0% in July).
Accordingly, to the provisional monthly estimates of Labour Force Survey, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (15 to 74 years old) was 12.4% in August (12.3% in the two previous months). The employed population estimate (15 to 74 years old), seasonally adjusted, decreased 0.8% comparing with previous month and increased 0.1% comparing with August 2014.
The year-on-year change rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 0.9% in September (0.7% in the previous month), with a change rate of 0.3% in the goods component (same change rate as in August) and 1.7% in the services component (1.2% in the preceding month).