Euro-area confidence rises more than forecast to decade high

Athens

EURO-area economic confidence surged more than economists forecast in September, giving European Central Bank policy makers more positive news to consider as they decide on the future of their bond-buying programme.

The index of industry and consumer sentiment increased to 113 in September from 111.9 the previous month, the European Commission in Brussels said on Thursday. The reading - the highest in a decade - was well above the median estimate of 112 in a Bloomberg survey.