Italian consumer and business confidence indices rise in December

Italian consumer sentiment rose in the month of December. Italian official statistical office, Istat, showed that the consumer confidence index rose to 110.8 from November’s 108.6. The rebound in sentiment showed the positive trend of all its components. In particular, the economic climate rebounded to 120.7 from 116.5. The current index rose to 108.8 from 106.8, while the personal one rose to 106.8 from 105.8. The future index rose to 112.2 from 110.2.

Meanwhile, the business confidence index rebounded to 100.7 from 99.2. The sentiment index in manufacturing rose a bit to 99.1 from 99. The assessments on order books rebounded to -17.1 from -18.8, while the expectations on production fell to 4.3. The assessments on inventories rose to 4.5.

Construction sentiment index rose to 140.1 from 137.1. Looking at the components, the assessments on order books/construction plans and the employment expectations rebounded to -12.8 and -2.1, respectively.

The market services sentiment index rose to 102.2 from 99.7. The components within rebounded. The assessments on order books and on business trend improved to 2.2 and to 7, respectively. The expectations on order books rose to 8.8.

The retail trade sentiment index rose to 110.9. The assessments on current sales rebounded while expectations on the future business activity deteriorated. Meanwhile, for inventories, the related balance dropped to 6.3. The retail trade confidence rebounded a bit in the small and medium scale distribution and rose in the large scale one.