European stocks close: stocks closed lower due to disappointing economic data from the U.S.

Stock indices closed lower due to disappointing economic data from the U.S. The U.S. retail sales declined 0.3% in September, missing expectations for a 0.1% drop, after a 0.6% gain in August.

The U.S. producer price index fell 0.1% in September, missing expectations for a 0.1% gain, after a flat reading in August.

The NY Fed Empire State manufacturing index decreased to 6.2 in September from 27.5 in August. Analysts had expected the index to decline to 20.3.

Worries about the outlook for the economy in the Eurozone also weighed on markets. Germany cut its growth forecasts for 2014 and 2015. The growth for this year was lowered to 1.2%, down from 1.8%, while the growth for 2015 was cut to 1.2%, down from 2%.

German consumer price inflation was flat in September, in line with expectations.

The U.K. unemployment rate dropped to 6.0% in the June to August quarter from 6.4% in the three months to July, exceeding expectations for a decline of 6.1%.

The claimant count in the U.K. decreased by 18,600 people in September, missing expectations for a drop of 34,200 people, after a decrease of 33,200 people in August. August's figure was revised from a decline of 37,200.

Shire Plc shares dropped 21%.

Indexes on the close:

Name Price Change Change %

FTSE 100 6,211.64 -181.04 -2.83%

DAX 8,571.95 -253.26 -2.87%

CAC 40 3,939.72 -148.53 -3.63%