In October 2018, the consumer confidence index improved slightly from 116.1 to 116.6. With regard to the individual components, the future component increased from 120.3 to 121.5, while the economic component remained basically stable (from 137.8 to 137.7); the personal and the current components declined from 109.3 to 108.7 and from 114.1 to 112.5 respectively. The balance concerning expectations on unemployment decreased from 18.2 to 12.9. Both the balance on inflation perceptions referring to the last 12 months and the balance on inflation expectations for the next 12 months improved from -7.8 to -1.3 and from -12.1 to -0.8 respectively.
With reference to the business confidence surveys, the composite business confidence climate index (IESI, Istat Economic Sentiment Indicator) weakened from 103.6 to 102.6.
The confidence index in manufacturing went down from 105.6 to 104.9. Both assessments on order books and production expectations worsened (balances from -6.5 to -7.2 and from 12.0 to 10.6 respectively), while the balance on inventories remained substantially unchanged (from 4.1 to 4.0).
The confidence index in construction increased from 136.9 to 138.9. Assessments on order books/construction plans improved (balance from -18.5 to -14.5), while employment expectations worsened (balance from -0.6 to -2.0).
The market services confidence index dropped from 105.1 to 103.7. Both the assessments on order books and the assessments on business trend changed for the worse (balances from 8.7 to 6.1 and from 14.1 to 10.3 respectively), while the expectations on order books improved (balances from 4.0 to 6.0).
The retail trade confidence index decreased from 104.3 to 101.7. Both the assessments on current sales and the expectations on future sales worsened (balances from 5.9 to 3.5 and from 27.8 to 23.2 respectively). The balance concerning the assessments on volume of stocks went up (from 13.5 to 14.5). The index decreased in the large scale distribution (from 105.7 to 101.7) while improved slightly in the small and medium scale distribution (from 99.9 to 100.5).