In January, both the consumer confidence index (from 117.7 to 114.2) and the business confidence climate index (from 112.7 to 105.4) are estimated to drop.
This was reported by Istat, according to which the confidence of companies "undergoes a marked downsizing, falling to the lowest value in the last nine months".
In a note, the national statistical institute makes it known that "the intensity of the decrease is determined by the sudden decline in confidence in the market services sector, where the transport and storage sector and that of tourist services record strong falls" while "the only positive signs come from the retail trade, with assessments on sales slightly improving, and from the construction sector".
The decrease was recorded in all sectors, albeit with different intensities. It is more contained in industry (in manufacturing the confidence index goes from 115.0 to 113.9 and in construction it drops from 159.1 to 158.8), as well as for retail trade, where the index falls from 107.4 to 106.6. On the other hand, there was a sharp fall in the market services sector, going from 109.6 to 94.9.
As regards the components of the confidence indices, all variables worsen in manufacturing and services; in construction, the opinions on orders are very negative but expectations on employment are increasing.
With reference to the retail trade, assessments on current sales improve, while expectations on future sales decrease and inventories are judged to be accumulating.
At the level of the distribution circuit, confidence is decreasing in large-scale distribution while it improves in the traditional one.
The consumer confidence index also recorded a decline, linked in particular to "the worsening of expectations on the economic situation in Italy and on the trend in unemployment".
In detail, all components are down, especially those referring to the economic climate (the index goes from 139.6 to 129.7) and to the future climate (from 120.8 to 113.5).
(Unioneonline / F)
