Italy: Consumers grow somewhat more confident at the beginning of the year
The consumer confidence index released by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) rose to 111.8 in January from December’s 110.8.
January’s increase came on the back of a broad-based improvement in the economic, personal, current and future components. Households’ expectations on the future general economic situation were less downbeat. Consequently, expectations on future unemployment moderated and future saving opportunities got less gloomy. Moreover, consumers’ assessments of their current financial situation improved somewhat, and their expectations on their future economic situation also improved. On the other hand, consumer’s assessments of the current general economic situation deteriorated, as did their assessments of their personal economic situation.