Italian consumer and business confidence indices fall in April

Italian consumer confidence index fell in the month of April. The official statistics office, Istat, showed that the confidence climate dropped to 117.1 from 117.5. The economic and future components rebounded to 142.6 and to 121.3, respectively.

In the meantime, personal and current components deteriorated to 108 and to 114, respectively. The balance concerning expectations on unemployment rose to 14.6 from 12.1. Both the balance on inflation perceptions referring to the last 12 months and the balance on inflation expectations for the next 12 months fell to -9.2 to -12.

On the other hand, the composite business confidence climate index fell in the month to 105.1 from 105.9, showed Istat. The manufacturing confidence index deteriorated from 108.9 to 107.7. Assessments on order books and production expectations worsened too. The balance on inventories fell to 3.7 from 4.

The construction sentiment index rose to 135.2 from 132.6. Both assessments on order books/construction plans and employment expectations rebounded. The market services sentiment index fell to 106.4 from 107.2. Both assessments on order books and on business trend deteriorated while the expectations on order books rebounded.

The retail trade confidence index fell t o 97.5 from 105. Both the assessments on current sales and the expectations on future sales fell. The balance concerning the assessments on volume of stocks rose. The index dropped to 97.4 from 106.8 in the large-scale distribution and dropped to 99.2 from 99.9 in the small and medium scale distribution.

At 18:00 GMT the FxWirePro's Hourly Strength Index of Euro was slightly bullish at 63.0924, while the FxWirePro's Hourly Strength Index of US Dollar was highly bullish at 101.12. For more details on FxWirePro's Currency Strength Index, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex

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