Consumer confidence in the 21-nation Euro Area fell 1.0 point to -16.5 in September 2026, according to the European Commission’s flash indicator. The reading declined from -15.5 in August, missed a -16.0 consensus forecast from economists polled by The Wall Street Journal and ended a four-month run of improvement that had lifted the index to a six-month high. Rebounding energy prices after military action in the Middle East escalated damaged household sentiment, alongside broader geopolitical and inflation concerns. Confidence across the European Union also weakened, with its index falling to -15.8 from -15.0. Separate September declines were recorded in Belgium, Denmark and Slovenia, where households reported concerns about economic conditions, personal finances, prices and unemployment.