Belgian consumer confidence rose in May to the highest in seven months as concerns over rising unemployment subsided and households anticipated their capacity to save will recover following a drop in oil prices.

The consumer sentiment index for Belgium, the sixth-largest economy in the 17-nation euro currency union, increased to minus 10 from minus 12 in April, the Brussels-based National Bank of Belgium said today in an e-mailed statement. That’s the highest level since October.

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To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jerrold Colten at jcolten@bloomberg.net