Description

France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and The United Kingdom have been classified as Western European countries in this study. It is assumed that the economy in this region may post a marginal recovery in H1 2014, following a prolonged economic uncertainty. At present, the business sentiment in France is low, due to a poor Purchasing Managers Index. The situation in Germany was slightly better in Q3 2013, owing to positive performance of the construction sector, whereas in Italy, investor confidence remained weak. The growth in the export sector is likely to drive Spain's economy till H1 2014, while in The United Kingdom, major industries, such as automotive and construction, are likely to post low growth till H1 2014.