Official figures show that consumer confidence in the 17 countries that use the euro fell for the second month running in January, a further sign that households remain reluctant to spend amid price increases and austerity measures, according to AP. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said Thursday that its eurozone consumer confidence index edged down to minus 11.4 following December's decline to minus 11. The second straight fall has taken the index to its lowest level since August. -- SPA
