Consumer and business confidence

In April 2019, the consumer confidence index diminished, passing from 111.2 to 110.5. The decrease was due once again to the negative trend of all its components: the economic one from 123.8 to 122.6, the personal one from 106.8 to 105.9, the current one from 107.8 to 106.9 and, finally, the future one from 115.9 to 115.6.

As for the business confidence climate, the related index (IESI, Istat Economic Sentiment Indicator) declined slightly from 99.1 to 98.7.

The confidence index in manufacturing slightly decreased (from 100.8 to 100.6). Assessments on order books and expectations on production worsened (the balances from -11.1 to -11.8 and from 3.4 to 3.2, respectively), while assessments on inventories lessened slightly (balance from 4.9 to 4.3).

The confidence index in construction went up from 140.3 to 141.2. In particular, the assessments on order books/construction plans improved from -20.2 to -18.8 while employment expectations slipped a little from 5.6 to 5.4.

The market services confidence index lowered from 101.1 to 99.0. Both the balances concerning assessments on order books and expectations on business trend decreased (from 0.6 to -1.8 and from 9.7 to 8.2 respectively). By contrast, the expectations on order books improved (balance from 0.9 to 1.6).

The retail trade confidence index fell from 105.3 to 101.4. Assessments on current sales dropped and expectations on the future ones deteriorated (from 9.8 to -0.7 the former and from 23.6 to 20.8 the latter). Finally, the balance concerning the assessments on volume of stocks moved from 10.1 to 8.7. The confidence index decreased both in the large scale distribution (from 105.3 to 102.8) and in the small and medium scale distribution (from 104.6 to 99.0).