Separate figures on the European economy appear to have increased uncertainty over the European Central Bank's interest rate policy.
The annual rate of inflation in the euro zone shot up to 2.1% in September from 1.7% in August, according to a first estimate from the EU's Eurostat agency.
The figure brought inflation above the European Central Bank's preferred level - less than but close to 2% - for the first time in a year. The rise, which was expected, was mainly due to oil prices.
The ECB has raised euro zone interest rates eight times since December 2005 in an attempt to keep inflation under control.
But a European Commission survey has shown that confidence in the European economy dropped more sharply than expected in September, led by tumbling sentiment in Germany.
The Commission's euro zone economic sentiment indicator retreated to 107.1 points from 109.9 in August. A separate euro zone business climate indicator from the Commission also worsened, dropping to 1.09 points in September from 1.37 in August.
Economists say that while the ECB will be concerned about inflation, it will also be reluctant to raise interest rates because of the impact of the turmoil on credit markets on economic confidence. The ECB meets next Thursday.
