Italian consumer sentiment index and business confidence index falls in May

The Italian consumer confidence index dropped in May. The headline sentiment index fell to 113.7 in the month from 116.9 in the prior month. All components deteriorated. The economic component dropped to 132.6, while the personal, current and future component indices fell to 107.7, 112.4 and 116.5, respectively. The balance concerning expectations on unemployment rose to 25.7. The balance on inflation perceptions referring to the last 12 months fell to -11.8 while the balance on inflation expectations for next 12 months rose to -11.4.

Meanwhile, the composite business confidence climate index fell to 104.7 from 105.0. The manufacturing confidence index stabilized at 107.7. Assessments on order books rebounded, while production expectations deteriorated to 13. The balance on inventories rose to 3.9. The confidence index in construction fell to 134.1. Assessments on order books/construction plans rebounded to -20.4 from -24.3, whereas employment expectations deteriorated to -2.3.The market services confidence index dropped to 106 from 106.4. Both assessments and expectations on order books deteriorated in the month while assessments on business trend rebounded.

The retail trade sentiment index rebounded to 99.8. The assessments on current sales dropped while the expectations on future sales rose. The balance concerning the assessments on volume of stocks dropped to 10.6. The index rebounded from 97.5 to 100.1 in the huge scale distribution and from 99.2 to 101.0 in the small and medium scale distribution.

At 16:00 GMT the FxWirePro's Hourly Strength Index of Euro was highly bearish at -149.11, while the FxWirePro's Hourly Strength Index of US Dollar was slightly bullish at 59.0695. For more details on FxWirePro's Currency Strength Index, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex

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