Italian consumer and business sentiment climates rise in July

Italian consumer sentiment rose again in July. According to Istat, the consumer confidence index rose to 113.4 from 109.8. The rebound was driven by the positive trend seen in all of its components. The economic component rose to 129.7 from 121.4, while the personal component rose to 108 from 105.6. The current and future components rose to 111.1 and 117.4, respectively in July.

Meanwhile, the business confidence climate rose to 101.2 in July from June’s 99.3. The manufacturing confidence index dropped to 100.1 from 100.7. Assessments on order books deteriorated to -17.7, while expectations on production rebounded. As regards to the assessments on inventories, the related balance passed to 3.1.

The sentiment index in construction rose to 142.8. Assessments on order books/construction rebounded to -11.9 and the employment expectations deteriorated to 0.6 from 2. The market services sentiment index rebounded to 101.1 from 98.9. Looking at the variables composing the index, both assessments on order books and the ones on business trend went up; at the same time also the expectations on order books ameliorated.

The retail trade sentiment index rose to 109.9. Both assessments on current sales and expectations on the future ones rebounded.

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