By William L. Watts
FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- The European Commission on Thursday said its economic sentiment indicator for the 17-nation euro zone slipped to 94.4 in March from 94.5 in February. Economists had expected an unchanged reading at 94.5. The consumer-confidence gauge rose to minus 19.1 from minus 20.3 in February, while the industry index fell to minus 7.2 from minus 5.7. The services index rose to minus 0.3 from minus 0.9; the retail-trade index rose to minus 12.2 from minus 14.0; and the construction index fell to minus 26.5 from minus 24.6.
