In July, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) in Albania recorded a slight increase of 0.7 points, positioning it about 11 points above the historical average. This improvement was mainly driven by increased confidence in the construction and services sectors, with a lesser impact from confidence boosts in the industry sector and consumer confidence. However, confidence in trade contributed negatively. 
Sector-Specific Confidence Indicators: 
Industry Confidence: 
The industry confidence indicator saw a modest increase of 0.3 percentage points in July, maintaining a level about 7 percentage points above the historical average. 
This growth was primarily influenced by more optimistic business estimates regarding current industrial production and new orders. 
Additionally, there was optimism about future industrial production and a slight rise in expectations for future prices compared to the previous month. 
Construction Confidence: 
Confidence in the construction sector increased by 2.7 percentage points in July, standing 21 points above the historical average and near an all-time high. 
The growth was attributed to positive estimates for current construction activity and the level of new orders. 
There was also an increase in expectations for future pricing in this sector. 
Services Confidence: 
The services sector confidence indicator rose by 1.7 percentage points in July, now standing around 20 points above the historical average. 
This increase was driven by more optimistic business assessments of current activity progress. 
While estimates for current demand levels remained almost unchanged, expectations for future demand increased. 
Businesses in the services sector have revised downward their future price performance expectations. 
Trade Confidence: 
The trade confidence indicator decreased by 3.1 percentage points in July, largely due to less optimistic estimates for current business performance. 
Despite the drop, the indicator level remains around 5 percentage points above the historical average. 
Trading businesses rated expectations for future prices higher in July. 
Consumer Confidence: 
The consumer confidence indicator saw a slight increase of 0.5 percentage points in July, breaking the downward trend observed over the past two months. 
The indicator continues to hover close to the historical average level. 
There was an increase in current valuations and expectations for large-scale purchases in July. 
However, consumer expectations for the economic situation were less optimistic, and expectations for future unemployment registered a slight decline. 
Overall, the slight increase in the ESI for July reflects mixed sentiments across different sectors, with significant improvements in construction and services confidence, modest gains in industry and consumer confidence, and a notable decline in trade confidence.