Italy's consumer confidence index up by 0.4 points in April 2023

With reference to the business confidence climate, the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) Economic Sentiment Indicator (IESI) index slightly increased from 110.1 to 110.5.

The confidence climate in manufacturing moved down from 104.1 to 103.0. Both expectations on production and assessments on order books worsened, the related balances passed from 8.4 to 6.5 and from -7.6 to -8.3, respectively, while inventories were considered to have built up, the balance of the variable passed from 3.9 to 4.3.

The expectations on employment also gave more favourable indications; the balance of the variable progressed from 9.7 to 11.2.

Assessments on business trend and expectations on order books changed for the better—the related balances passed from 8.5 to 10.0 and from 5.8 to 10.4, respectively. Conversely, assessments on order books got worse, the balance of the variable decreased from 9.0 to 7.7.

The retail trade confidence index decreased from 115.7 to 113.0. In particular, negative indications came from the opinions and even if to a lesser extent the forecasts for sales; the related balances varied from 34.8 to 29.8 and from 26.0 to 23.2, respectively. Finally, inventories were considered to have slightly increased, the related balance rose in fact from 5.5 to 6.1.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (NB)