In January 2013, the composite index of the confidence climate of Italian businesses rose to 79,9 from 75,6 in December. "The increase in the overall index - explains Istat - is the synthesis of an improvement in the confidence of companies in market services and construction and a slight deterioration recorded in the manufacturing industry and in the retail trade".
The confidence climate index of manufacturing companies decreased, from 88,9 in December to 88,2, while that of construction companies increased, from 79,5 in December to 80,3. Assessments on orders from manufacturing companies worsen, production expectations remain stable and assessments on inventories improve.
The analysis of the climate of confidence by main groupings of industries (Rpi) indicates a worsening of production expectations in consumer and intermediate goods (from -3 to -4 and from -5 to -8, respectively) and an improvement in capital goods (from -6 to -2). In construction, continues the note from Istat, both assessments on construction orders and/or plans and expectations on employment improve (the respective balances from -51 to -50 and from -18 to -15).
The confidence climate index grows significantly among market services companies (from 71,9 in December to 78,9), while it decreases slightly among those in the retail trade (from 77,6 to 77,3) . In services, expectations on the general economic trend improve (from -51 to -41, the relative balance) and assessments on order books (from -29 to -20); order expectations remain stable at -12.
In retail trade, the confidence climate index decreased in large-scale distribution (from 70,6 to 62,7), but increased in traditional distribution (from 85,8 to 89,5).
