BERLIN, Aug. 2 -- The economic expectations for the third quarter of 2018 in the euro area is expected to drop to the lowest level since the end of 2017, German economic institute Ifo said on Thursday in a forecast report.

According to the report, the Ifo Economic Climate for the euro area fell notably from 31.1 balance points last quarter to 19.6 balance points.

Among them, the index points of economic expectations dropped from 13.8 balance points last quarter to -0.1 balance points in the third quarter of this year.

"This signals an economic slowdown in the euro area," Ifo President Clemens Fuest stated in the report, based on the responses of 367 economic experts.

The economic climate deteriorated to varying degrees in euro area's five biggest economies including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.

In addition, the surveyed experts expect investment to stagnate for the first time since the end of 2017. Meanwhile, they also forecast an annual inflation rate of 1.7 percent for 2018, 0.1 percent point higher than last year.

"The current debate over tariffs and protectionism led to a clear deterioration in export expectations," the report read.

Since 1981 the Ifo Institute has conducted a quarterly survey in numerous countries on business cycle developments and other economic factors.

【国际英语资讯:Economic expectations in euro area drop to lowest level since 2017: think tank】相关文章：

★ 出版商转战电子图书市场

★ BAE与EADS联姻告吹

★ 金砖国家的微观缺陷

★ 中国将对美韩太阳能材料展开倾销调查

★ 马来西亚洗车店洗车9次送性服务

★ 中海油向美方重新申请收购尼克森

★ 双语阅读：不当办公室里的“困兽”

★ 中共无意放松对政治、经济的掌控

★ 当教堂变身豪宅

★ 联想真的需要智能手机业务吗？