European consumer confidence posts increase for July

Consumer confidence in Europe posted its eighth consecutive monthly gain in July, dpa cited a survey released on Tuesday as showing. The European Commission survey comes as the 17-member eurozone struggles with the long-running economic crisis. The bloc has managed to calm market jitters, but sluggish growth and high unemployment rates remain. The index measuring confidence among households rose to minus 17.4 points this month, from minus 18.8 in June. Consumer sentiment in the broader 28-member European Union rose more markedly, to minus 14.8, from a June level of minus 17.5. Last month's figures did not include Croatia, which joined the EU on July 1.