Consumer and business confidence - May 2024

In May 2024, the consumer confidence index increased from 95.2 to 96.4 thanks to a rise in all its components. Particularly, the economic confidence climate improved from 99.4 to 101,9, the future one from 93.9 to 95.7, the current one from 96.2 to 97.0 and, finally, the personal one from 93.7 to 94.4.

With reference to the business confidence climate, the index (IESI, Istat Economic Sentiment Indicator) weakened from 95.8 to 95.1.

The manufacturing confidence climate bettered from 87.7 to 88.4. More specifically, the balance of assessments on order books recovered from -19.6 to -19.1 and the one of expectations on production progressed from 0.7 to 1.4. Lastly, firms indicated a stock reduction (the related balance diminished, in fact, from 2.9 to 1.8).

The construction confidence climate deteriorated from 103.3 to 101.6. Among confidence-building variables, assessments on order books/construction changed for the worse (the related balance reduced from 0.7 to -3.6), while expectations on employment got better (the balance of the variable improved from 6.2 to 7.1).

The market services confidence climate moved down from 99.5 to 97.8. More specifically, the balance referring to assessments on order books diminished from 4.8 to 3.2, the one concerning assessments on business trend reduced from 10.1 to 5.7 and, finally, the one of expectations on order books improved from 3.8 to 4.3.

The retail trade confidence climate held virtually stable passing from 102.9 to 102.8. Looking at its components, a marked reduction was observed in business activity assessments, while expectations on the future sales improved (the related balances varied from 16.9 to 11.7 and from 20.0 to 25.4, respectively). As for inventories, the balances of the variable passed from 7.2 to 7.8.