Consumer confidence hits 2023 lows amid Middle East conflict
Consumer confidence in Portugal has dropped to its lowest level since December 2023 as the conflict in the Middle East fuels fears of rising prices. Data from the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estatística or INE) shows a sharp decline in economic sentiment across the retail and construction sectors. European Central Bank (Banco Central Europeu) President Christine Lagarde warned that the global energy shock resulting from the crisis is currently being underestimated.
INE (Instituto Nacional de Estatística) is Portugal's official statistics office, responsible for collecting, processing, and publishing data on the economy, population, housing, employment, inflation, and social conditions.
Key INE publications include the Consumer Price Index (CPI), quarterly GDP figures, housing price indices, census data, and labor market statistics. These figures are widely used by policymakers, journalists, lenders, and international organizations to assess Portugal's economic and social trends.
INE data is publicly available at ine.pt, where users can access databases, press releases, and interactive tools covering everything from property prices to demographic shifts.
Christine Lagarde is President of the European Central Bank since November 2019 and was Managing Director of the IMF from 2011 to 2019. Her decisions and public statements influence ECB monetary policy, which affects euro interest rates, mortgages and inflation across the euro area.





























