* Economic sentiment 95.7 (poll 92.4) vs 94.1 in Dec
* Industry sentiment -14 vs -16, consumers flat at -16
* Business climate rises to -1.12 vs revised -1.30 in Dec
(Recasts with economists' comments, German jobless)
By Jan Strupczewski
BRUSSELS, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Economic sentiment in the euro zone strengthened much more than expected in January and December while German unemployment rose less than forecast this month, data showed, pointing to continued economic recovery.
A monthly survey by the European Commission showed the economic sentiment indicator (ESI) for the 16-country area rose to 95.7 points -- well above the 92.4 forecast by economists in a Reuters poll -- from 94.1 in December.
The December figure was revised from a previous reading of 91.3, and the number for January was the highest since June 2008.
"Did anyone say (the recovery was) running out of steam?" said Carsten Brzeski, economist at ING.
"The European Commission's economic sentiment indicator for the euro zone just confirmed the ongoing recovery," he said.
But economists noted that sentiment, seen as a good indicator of gross domestic product growth, remained well below the long-term average of 100 and that its expansion had slowed.
"The ESI ... now points to only modest annual GDP growth, consistent with very small quarterly gains in Q4 and Q1," said Jennifer McKeown, economist at Capital Economics.
"We would need to see a sharper rise in sentiment in the coming months to be convinced that the recovery is gaining momentum," she said.
Economists also said sentiment in France, Italy and Germany was closer to historical averages than in Spain, Portugal and Greece.
"The two-speed recovery could give European central bankers a painful headache once they start considering rate hikes," Brzeski said.
German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle told parliament that a number of euro zone countries were "dangerously" weak, which could have a fatal impact on the rest of the euro zone.
"Some euro states are showing dangerous weakness. This may have fatal effects on all states in the euro zone," he said in a reference to large budget deficits in countries such as Greece and Portugal, which have shaken bond markets and hit the euro.
INFLATION EXPECTATIONS RISE, STILL MUTED
The January rise in euro zone sentiment stemmed mainly from a 5-point improvement in that for retail trade, to -5 points.
There were 2-point improvements in the industrial and services sectors to -14 and -1 respectively. Consumer sentiment stagnated at -16, while construction fell by 1 point to -29.
"Today's (data) will be an important part of the European Central Bank's briefing files for next week as it delivers two comforting main messages: the recovery continues and inflation expectations remain more than well-anchored," Brzeski said.
Expectations of price trends over the next 12 months among consumers jumped to -2 from -6 points as fewer expected prices to decline.
"Consumers' inflation expectations rose ... but were still well below long-term norms, while they were modestly more prepared to make major purchases both now and over the next 12 months," said Howard Archer, economist at IHS Global Insight.
"This lifts hopes that consumer spending could pick up from currently still muted levels. Even so, the upside for consumer confidence is still being limited by relatively high concerns over unemployment," Archer said.
The number of jobless in Germany rose by less than expected in January, adding to evidence that a recovery in Europe's largest economy continued to be intact despite a harsh winter that has hit some sectors.
The German jobless total rose by 6,000 on the month to a seasonally adjusted 3.429 million, while economists had expected an increase three times as big.
But the European Commission survey showed that employment expectations in the manufacturing industry in Germany remained well below the long-term average and unchanged in January from December at -22, similar to the euro zone as a whole.
Economists attributed this to manufacturing capacity utilisation being near record lows, though it edged up in the first quarter of 2010 to 72.4 percent from 71 percent in the last quarter of 2009 and a low of 69.6 percent in the third.
"Large spare capacity will strain investment decisions," said Clemente de Lucia, economist at BNP Paribas.
"This combined with poor demand prospects will clearly weigh on firms' hiring intentions," de Lucia said. (Additional reporting by Marcin Grajewski; editing by Dale Hudson)