Italy's consumer & business confidence shows positive trend this month

The business sector also reflected growing optimism this month, with the Istat Economic Sentiment Indicator (IESI) climbing from 103.5 to 107.2. Nonetheless, the confidence level in the manufacturing sector declined slightly from 96.6 to 95.4. The sentiment regarding order books showed little change, maintaining stability, whereas the outlook for production deteriorated slightly (with the indicators adjusting from -21.2 to -21.1 and from 1.8 to -1.5, respectively). Finally, the balance of assessments on inventories held steady (5.2).

The retail trade confidence index increased slightly from 107.5 to 107.8. Surveyed firms revised up the assessments on the current business activity but showed concern about the future trend in sales (the balance of the former variable rose from 13.0 to 19.1, and the one of the latter worsened from 27.2 to 20.1). Inventories were considered to have decreased (the related balance went down from 10.2 to 8.3), the Istat said in a press release.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KD)