FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the river Rhine and the skyline including the Rheinturm and Rheinkniebruecke in Duesseldorf, Germany, May 13, 2024. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) -Investor morale in the euro zone plunged in September to its lowest level since April, a survey showed on Monday, as economic worries returned with full force across the currency bloc.

The Sentix index for the euro zone unexpectedly fell to -9.2 in September from -3.7 in August. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected the index to slightly rise, to -2.0.

The survey of 1,024 investors showed both the current situation and expectations also deteriorating sharply, with the current situation index dropping to -18.8 in September from -13.0 the month before, while expectations fell to 0.8 from 6.0, its lowest reading since April.

"Economic anxieties are coming back with full force," Sentix said in a statement.

Germany, Europe's largest economy, saw an even steeper decline, with its overall index falling to -22.1 in September.

"There is not much sign of an autumn revival and the pressure on export-oriented industry is likely to increase further as a result of the tariff deal with the United States," Sentix said.

(Writing by Friederike Heine, Editing by Miranda Murray)