Belgian consumer confidence edged lower in January

Consumer confidence in Belgium was slightly weaker at the start of 2016, breaking a string of three monthly rises.

The Belgian central bank's confidence indicator slipped from a reading of -3 in November to -4 in January and compared to -9 in January 2015.

A sub-index linked to consumers' forecasts for the overall economic situation in the country retreated from 0 to -1, even as their expectations for unemployment stabilised.

Households' expectations for their financial situation were unchanged, with a sub-index staying put at -2, although families were anticipating a modest decline in their savings, the central bank said in a statement.