In December the composite business confidence climate index (IESI, Istat Economic Sentiment Indicator), obtained by summarizing the confidence climates of manufacturing, construction, market services and retail trade, decreased to 75.4 from 76.5 in November.
The confidence index in manufacturing rose to 88.9 from 88.5. Assessments on order books increased while production expectations and inventories worsened.
The confidence index in construction decreased to 79.5 from 79.6. Employment expectations and assessments on order books and construction plans decreased (from -17 to -18 and from -50 to -51, respectively).
The market services confidence index fell to 71.9 from 73.4 in November. The index increased in Information and communication (from 76.4 to 77.4) and in Business services and other services (from 74.6 to 77.4) while it declined in Transportation and storage (from 68.2 to 64.6) and in Tourism services (from 72.9 to 67.0).
The retail trade confidence index fell to 77.8 from 80.6 in November. The confidence decreased in large scale distribution (from 76.7 to 70.9) and in small and medium scale distribution (from 87.0 to 85.3).