In March, the climate of confidence improved consumers, while that of the companies registers a decline. To say it is Istat, according to which consumer confidence has gone from 114,5 points in February to 115, exceeding analysts' expectations, to 114, while that of companies has experienced a decline from 103,2 to 100,1, 22. The figure, the statistical institute points out, was recorded before the attacks in Brussels on XNUMX March.
In detail, looking at consumers, the estimates referring to the economic, current and future components of the consumer confidence climate have improved (respectively, to 142,9 from 141,8, to 111,1 from 110,7 and to 120,6 from 120,4), while the personal component recorded a slight decrease (to 105,7 from 105,8).
as to economic situation of the country, both assessments and expectations improved (to -34 from -37 and to 5 from 4, respectively). Opinions on prices in the past 12 months and expectations for the next 12 months decrease (to -36 from -26 and to -30 from -20). Unemployment expectations did not change compared to the previous month (the balance at 12).
In terms of companies, confidence rose only in manufacturing (to 102,2 from 102) while the greatest drop was recorded in services (to 103,2 from 106,5). In manufacturing companies, assessments on orders improve (from -13 to -14), expectations on production remain stable (at 9), while assessments on inventories go from 4 to 3. In construction, assessments on orders and/or plans worsen construction (to -37 from -35) and expectations on employment remain stable (to -7).
In services, assessments and expectations on order books fall (the respective balances to -1 from 7 and 2 from 7), while expectations on the economic trend improve (to 7 from 5). In the retail trade, the balance of assessments on current sales worsens (to 5 from 13), against an increase in that relating to expectations on future sales (to 28 from 19).
