In October compared with the value of the previous month, the three-months moving average of the economic sentiment indicator (ESI) increased by 0,4 points to 98,3. Confidence increased mainly in construction and partially in services, contrastly, it dropped significantly in industry and to a lesser extent in trade, while among consumers it remained relatively stable. ESI is currently lagging behind the long-term average by 5,3 points while it exceeds the result of the corresponding period last year by 0,3 points.

In October, the confidence indicator in industry decreased by 13,3 percentage points (p. p.) to the value -12,3. The development of the indicator was influenced the most significantly by the expected decrease of production over the next three months. In October compared with the previous month, the confidence indicator in construction increased by 6 points to -9,0 due to more favourable evaluations of the overall level of orders. The current result is exceeding the long-term average by 16 points. In October compared with September, confidence indicator in trade decreased by 2,7 percentage points to 20 as a result of negative evaluations of the current business activities and the stock of goods. In October, the confidence indicator in services increased, its value (8,7) was higher by 1,7 percentage points, compared with September. The indicator´s development was affected by a favourable evaluations of the expected demand, while the business situation and the demand over the past three months were evaluated more negatively by respondents.

In October, the consumer mood in Slovakia remained relatively stable. The seasonally adjusted indicator of consumer confidence decreased by 0,1 point to -7,7. The pessimistic expectations of the financial situation of households and the general economic situation were hampered by optimistic expectations of the saving perspectives of households, while the expectations of unemployment remained practically unchanged. The respondents were less optimistic by 4,2 points than in the corresponding period last year and the current result is exceeding the long-term average.