Italy: Business confidence improves in March
The National Institute of Statistics (Istat)’s composite business confidence indicator (Clima di Fiducia delle Imprese Italiane, IESE)—which covers the manufacturing, construction, market services and retail sectors—rose to 93.9 in March, from 93.3 in February. The upturn largely came on the back of improvements in sentiment in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Meanwhile, confidence in the market services and retail trade sectors weakened from the previous month.